However, it is even more annoying that the traffic pollutes the air with nitrogen dioxide (NO2), where levels frequently exceed limits the European Union (EU) has fixed for residential areas. EU member states are requested to keep those limits; otherwise, penalties of millions of euros must be sent to Brussels.
The easiest way to get rid of high NO2 concentrations in the city would be to place the B 31 into a tunnel. Five years ago, the shorter northern and easier part was placed underground. At the same time, financing the longer western and more complicated section got federal financial approval just three weeks ago.
The easiest way to get rid of high NO2 concentrations in the city would be to place the B 31 into a tunnel. Five years ago, the shorter northern and easier part was placed underground. At the same time, financing the longer western and more complicated section got federal financial approval just three weeks ago.
The B 31 will be upgraded with federal money to become the A 860, Freiburg's city autobahn. The total cost estimate is 325 million euros (400 MU$). With 163 Euro per kilometer, the western section of Freiburg's city tunnel will be the most expensive autobahn built in Germany and take 15 years to complete. The EU, however, will not wait until their air quality standards are eventually met in Freiburg in 2031.
Since last year the city of Freiburg has been within a "green" environmental zone of low air pollution. Only cars fulfilling the latest low-emission values fixed in the EU can enter the city boundaries.
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| Planned and existing city tunnel (©Wikipedia/Maximilian Dürrbecker) |
The only exception is the B 31 thoroughfare so that the crucial west-east traffic may transit the Black Forest without restrictions. Placing the B 31 into the "green" environmental zone will exclude many Dreckschleudern (big polluters), particularly foreign trucks, from transiting Freiburg. With this ban, however, lots of traffic will escape into neighboring villages, which do not have the necessary road stability and infrastructure. The Regierungspräsidium (the local state authority) is in dire straights.
Last week Regierungspräsidentin Bärbel Schäfer called for the help of Freiburg citizens. The local authority intended to form six working groups to brainstorm and find solutions to get to grips with the air pollution along the B 31. Eventually, only 30 "experts" followed the call, and only four working groups could be formed. The Badische Zeitung mentioned a few ad hoc proposals that were already made:
Since a train, the Höllentalbahn, running parallel to the B 31, transverses the Black Forest, all the trucks are put on the rail. With no infrastructure and only one track available, forget it.
Make public transport cheaper and give out short-distance tickets. Sorry, truck drivers will not buy those.
Place the B 31 into the city's environmental zone. In the case of a federal road, only the Federal Ministry of Transport and not the state government can authorize such a move.
Red Baron is disgusted. Where many experts have failed to solve the long-known air pollution problem, laypersons should now spend their time squaring the circle. The participation of citizens in the debate is a mere eyewash and an abuse of their goodwill. The small number of people attending the Open-Space-Conference (as the Regierungspräsidium called it) proves that the mature citizen is not as dumb as those governing us assume. Is the last call for people the final cartridge the state authorities aim towards the EU in Brussels to avoid penalties? We in Freiburg have done everything possible to reduce NO2 concentrations, even asking our citizens to serve as fig leaves.
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| Fitting the tunnel below an existing infrastructure is not easy (©Freiburg Garten- und Tiefbauamt) |
Since a train, the Höllentalbahn, running parallel to the B 31, transverses the Black Forest, all the trucks are put on the rail. With no infrastructure and only one track available, forget it.
Make public transport cheaper and give out short-distance tickets. Sorry, truck drivers will not buy those.
Place the B 31 into the city's environmental zone. In the case of a federal road, only the Federal Ministry of Transport and not the state government can authorize such a move.
Red Baron is disgusted. Where many experts have failed to solve the long-known air pollution problem, laypersons should now spend their time squaring the circle. The participation of citizens in the debate is a mere eyewash and an abuse of their goodwill. The small number of people attending the Open-Space-Conference (as the Regierungspräsidium called it) proves that the mature citizen is not as dumb as those governing us assume. Is the last call for people the final cartridge the state authorities aim towards the EU in Brussels to avoid penalties? We in Freiburg have done everything possible to reduce NO2 concentrations, even asking our citizens to serve as fig leaves.
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