Trouble around Wolgaster Südhafen: Trucks can't get around the curve!

Trouble around Wolgaster Südhafen: Trucks can't get around the curve!

Wolgast, a town on the picturesque Baltic Sea, is the focus of structural changes that directly affect the Südhafen industrial area. Neue Bahnhofstrasse is currently being expanded to make access easier for trucks and semi-trailers. This is a necessary step to improve inner-city traffic flow and restore quality of life to residents. How Baltic Sea newspaper reported, however, the expansion of the approximately 150 meter long access road is not enough. The road layout is inadequate because the drag curve is not sufficient for heavy goods traffic and the trucks have problems turning.

The concern is an important one for the city's mayor, Martin Schröter: He describes the outstanding work as an “urgent project”. The traffic going to and from the commercial area also crosses the tracks of the Usedomer Bäderbahn, which is why the involvement of the Federal Railway Authority is necessary. In this context, the city has already drawn up a plan for the necessary work and has contacted the Schwerin Ministry of Economic Affairs for support.

Promotion of the local bypass

At the same time, the new Wolgast bypass is being planned NDR is already in full swing. This bypass aims to reduce through traffic in the city, which affects over 15,000 cars, buses and trucks every day during the holiday season. In order to overcome this major challenge, around 250,000 tons of sand and earth have already been moved. But there is a lot to do here too: Up to nine meters of earth has to be removed to make space for the new traffic structure.

With a total length of almost seven kilometers, the new bypass will bring about a significant transformation of the city's infrastructure. Asphalting work on the section between the B111 and the roundabout in the direction of Neue Bahnhofstrasse is already underway. Nevertheless, drivers have to prepare for new traffic routes and possible traffic jams, as the project is associated with high costs of up to 287 million euros and possible delays.

The challenges and prospects

Another highlight of the construction project will be a new bridge, which is urgently needed. The procurement process for the construction is already underway and if everything goes according to plan, construction could begin in the fall. The construction period is set to take around three years, and the bypass is expected to be fully load-bearing by the end of 2028. Until then, we have to be patient, because the complexity of the work is high and the people in Wolgast will probably have to live with restrictions for a while.

Considering the extensive changes and the challenges that come with them, it is clear that the city of Wolgast is working with a good hand on its transport infrastructure. Ultimately, smooth commercial traffic, which is important for the region, would not be possible without suitable connections. The residents can hope that the efforts will soon bear fruit and the city will become more livable for all citizens.