Protest in Altona: Citizens fight against tree felling for mega bridge!

Protest in Altona: Citizens fight against tree felling for mega bridge!

Several dozen people recently gathered in Hamburg-Altona to protest against the ongoing tree felling work for the new construction of the Sternbrücke. The demonstration, in which 63 people took part, was peaceful and discussed the felling of up to 37 street trees on Max-Brauer-Allee. These measures are necessary so that the new bridge can be transported to the intersection on Stresemannstrasse next summer. This reports World.

Deutsche Bahn plans to replace the almost 100-year-old bridge, which is visited daily by over 900 S-Bahn as well as regional and long-distance trains, with an impressive column-free tied arch construction. With a length of 108 meters and a height of 26 meters, this structure has large dimensions. Nevertheless, the project has been heavily criticized by residents and environmental initiatives, who consider the bridge to be oversized and harmful to the environment. A railway spokesman confirmed the approval of the felling, which, according to him, is necessary to enable heavy goods transport from April 2025 T Online reported.

Controversial tree felling

The Sternbrücke initiative, which is actively campaigning against the felling, describes the measures as “shameless” and is calling for the project to be re-planned. This did not happen without resistance - the activists tried to stop the felling work, which ultimately led to a police operation. Despite the protests, Deutsche Bahn has announced that it will plant three new trees for every tree felled, but this promise does not convince critics.

In a response to a request from the Hamburg Senate in February 2024, no tree felling for spring 2025 was mentioned, which makes the situation even more explosive. The course of the felling over the coming months has put a huge strain on trust in Deutsche Bahn's communication.

Criticism and future outlook

The demolition of the old Sternbrücke is already planned for the summer holidays of 2026, and the project has sparked controversies that question the character of the urban space in Altona. Critics speak of an “urban planning scandal” and a “monster bridge”. However, Deutsche Bahn sees the project as an important step in the development of a strong rail network and is committed to sustainable mobility.

The debate surrounding tree felling and new construction will continue. It remains to be seen whether the plans can perhaps be directed in a different direction. One thing is clear: the voices of residents and environmental initiatives are loud and demand to be heard.