Mainstrasse in Offenbach: closure for 7 weeks – traffic chaos ahead!

Mainstrasse in Offenbach: closure for 7 weeks – traffic chaos ahead!

In Offenbach it will soon be “construction site instead of thoroughfare”. From September 29th, Mainstrasse will be closed for seven weeks, exactly in the section from Friedhofstrasse down to Bürgel. However, the city will not be able to complete the work without obstacles, as Mayor Felix Schwenke emphasizes, who warns of significant traffic disruptions. The reason for the complete closure is extensive development work on the sewer and power network, which is necessary for the new innovation campus, as [op-online.de](https://www.op-online.de/offenbach/mainstrasse-lang-dicht-offenbach- Preparet-sich-auf-baustelle-vor-93954513.html) reports.

A few days ago, a citizens' information event took place in Rumpenheim, which was met with great interest and attracted around 60 citizens. Bernd Monath, the overall project manager, gave an overview of the construction process and the associated development work. First, work will begin at the lowest point. Plans include, among other things, the connection to the drinking water pipeline as well as the laying of empty pipes for the 110 kV power network and the connection to the dirty water sewer.

Construction site dimensions and impacts

The construction site requires extensive measures, including the installation of a 10-meter-high cascade weir to help improve flood protection. The aim of this measure is to prevent rainwater from backing up into the Main. The civil engineering company Uhrig responsible for this will carry out the work. In addition, residents have expressed concerns about whether there could be delays during construction.

The traffic light regulation on Mainstrasse will also come under criticism during the construction period. Traffic diversions are planned, which are already being discussed by the responsible authorities. Bus route 101 will be rerouted, which means that the “Diakoniezentrum” stop will be moved to Arthur-Zitscher-Straße, while the “Hafenbahn” and “Bildstockstraße” stops will not be served during this time. The Main cycle path also remains unaffected by the closure, which is positive news for cyclists, as offenbach.de notes.

Diverse challenges and planning

The challenge of these construction measures lies not only in the size of the excavation pit, which is up to six meters deep, but also in the need to use large construction machines for the work. In order to ensure the safety of all road users, a complete bypass of Mainstrasse is essential, so no further construction sites will be approved on the diversion route during this period.

Mayor Schwenke and his team are trying to plan the closure as cheaply as possible. This is done taking into account the holiday periods in order not to cause unnecessary strain on traffic during construction work. This coordinated approach aims to prevent multiple closures in the region and provide some relief to local residents.

But not only in Offenbach, but also beyond, the infrastructure is facing major challenges. Developments in energy and water supply, as well as wastewater disposal, are changing. The uncertainty about future public infrastructure is a topic that concerns many people and that does not go unnoticed by the citizens of Offenbach, as Difu states.

In the coming weeks it will be important to show patience and follow the diversions - after all, a lot depends on the future of the city, which should be steered into an innovative phase with these measures.