The municipal councils in Weßling and Wörthsee decided this week to strengthen the Steinebacher Weg, which is particularly popular with cyclists.
The approval of the Seefeld community is still missing, but Mayor Klaus Kögel is optimistic.
Weßling/Wörthsee/Seefeld – The unpaved forest path between Weßling and Steinebach is to be turned into a cycle path suitable for everyday use by means of a bitumen cover.
The municipal councils of Weßling and Wörthsee spoke out in favor of this this week.
On nice days, the field path is a dream for walkers and cyclists - but alas, it's raining, snowing or freezing.
The Steinebacher Weg is part of the district's everyday route network and is part of the Munich-Bad Wörishofen long-distance cycle path.
The moraine hill on the 280 meter long section on the Wörthseer Flur is particularly tricky.
"The area is heavily washed out after rain showers and gullies are forming," says Mayor Christel Muggenthal.
"The combination of road slope and loose gravel leads to a high risk of falling," says Wessling's Mayor Michael Sturm.
In addition to Wörthsee, Weßling is involved with an 880 meter long section and Seefeld with around 920 meters.
The 150 meter long area of the bridge at the bypass is already asphalted.
Now the gravel path is to be made suitable for everyday use with “hot liquid bitumen sprayed on”, as Jakob Aumiller from the horticultural company of the same name explains.
"This has proven itself for forest roads and is the cheapest solution," he says.
"And if a crack appears, you can simply spray it again." Good experiences have been made with the method on the dirt road between Steinebach and Güntering for around 40 years.
Muggenthal is also enthusiastic.
"It's quick and unbureaucratic," she said on Wednesday when the Wörthsee municipal council dealt with the route.
Upgrading of the path should ensure more safety
There wasn't much discussion about the necessity.
"Sealing is always questionable," said Florian Tyroller (Greens).
"But the current condition of the steep slope is really dangerous for cyclists." The municipal council spoke unanimously in favor of the expansion.
In Wessling, the decision had been made the day before with 11:7 votes.
Martin Deuflhart (CSU) got "stomach ache" at the thought of asphalt forest paths and, like Lukas Erlacher (SPD), called for a variant with gravel.
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Birka Camerer (Greens), on the other hand, was positive about the fortification, having voted against it in 2017 when expansion was already an issue.
Michael Sturm's arguments made sense to her.
He reported, among other things, about professionals who used the route as a way to work, but after rain the route was unattractive.
Sturm had collected arguments a good two months ago when he took a look at the situation on site with Muggenthal and Seefeld's mayor Klaus Koegel.
Seefeld's head of the building authority, Ralf-Peter Beutel, and horticulturist Aumiller were also there.
Around 60,000 euros are incurred, divided among three communities
The costs for the expansion are estimated at around 30 euros per meter if the building yard takes over the preparation of the subsoil.
Weßling would have to contribute around 22,000 euros, Seefeld would have to contribute around 28,000 euros, and Wörthsee would have to pay around 8,000 euros.
Weßling's municipal administration intends to present detailed costs and any funding at one of the next meetings.
A decision in Seefeld is still pending.
But he had already “warned” his local councillors, says Mayor Kögel.
"I would support the expansion."
Incidentally, Jakob Aumiller does not see the high follow-up costs for clearing snow that Kögel fears.
He spoke of a "restricted winter service", instead of salt, more environmentally friendly grit should be spread.
And he is also trying to dispel other concerns: There is no need to fear additional compaction on country lanes used for agriculture.
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