From Polling to Steingaden: That's the status of the cycle path projects in the Weilheim-Schongau district

The members of the ADFC wanted to find out how the current cycle path projects in the district are doing.

That's why they asked representatives of the State Building Authority to their regulars' table.

District – Andreas Lenker, head of the road construction department at the state building authority, packed all sorts of information about 19 ongoing projects in the entire district into his two-hour presentation.

Another aspect is nature conservation, especially species conservation, which thwarts many projects.

Cycle path Polling-Oberhausen-Huglfing

The ADFC has long been asking for a cycle path between Polling, Oberhausen and Huglfing.

Now the effort seems to have paid off.

"We are in good spirits, all mayors are there," said a happy Lenker.

Driving on the state road could soon come to an end for cyclists.

In addition, the dangling at Berg is to be removed, the path is to be relocated towards the railway track and continued straight.

In talks with the railways, it still has to be clarified whether the path on the ground may be asphalted.

“In the worst case, the gravel stays,” Lenker sees this aspect calmly.

Dießen-Fischen cycle path

A route that has been causing a stir for decades is the one between Dießen and Vorderfischen.

"All conservation stories have been re-recorded," said Lenker, admitting that it was done because of political pressure.

Because the courts would have actually given the cycle path a rebuff years ago.

"I don't think that has changed," Lenker suspects of a similar result in this lap as well.

One thing is certain for him in the further course: "There will be complaints, no matter from which side." The highly sensitive natural areas are currently being worked out and a potential analysis should bring clarity to the users of the connection.

One thing is certain for Lenker: The cyclists are not the problem, but above all many people walking their dogs would be afraid of harming the wild animals and people who stay off the paths.

How it goes on?

"That's for the courts to decide.

We let ourselves be surprised,” said Lenker.

However, he had good news about the Ammer Bridge in Fischen.

The bridge can probably be moved without fear of a lawsuit.

Cycle paths in Weilheim

There is also work to be done in Weilheim.

Lenker called the B 2 at the Krumpperstraße intersection a "permanent accident problem".

A traffic light is planned here to make the area safer for cyclists.

In the case of a planned cycle path from the direction of Deutenhausen, "we've already got bloody noses in the city," recalled Lenker.

Nevertheless, he is behind the idea of ​​a cycle path that should run north along the state road and then safely with a crossing over the Narbonner Ring in the direction of the city - including the elimination of the turning lane for cars.

"The plan is known to the city and would be quite feasible," hopes Lenker on the concession of the city.

It is also due to a lack of commitment on the part of the city that nothing has progressed between Weilheim and Seeshaupt.

"They don't see themselves in a position to support us in acquiring land," regretted Lenker.

Seeshaupt, on the other hand, has already done his homework and promised the necessary plots of land.

Considerations to start only parts of the way are therefore being discussed.

"We will never build a cycle path from front to back, but always as far as possible," said Lenker, explaining the common practice.

Cycle path on the B2 near Etting

On the B 2 south of Etting, the cycle path is actually finished.

It is currently ending at a barge, but once the existing farm roads have been dismantled, a connection to a newly planned cycle path will be created.

A crossing aid will also be set up, because you still have to cross the street.

Cycle path Peißenberg-Oberhausen

Another hot potato is the connection between Peißenberg and Oberhausen.

The situation for cyclists here is currently "incredibly dangerous and confusing," says Lenker.

A cycle path directly along the WM 15 could solve the problem (5.2 kilometers long, 1.9 million euros), but is currently failing due to the purchase of land.

Minor interventions in the FFH area and no risk of flooding are plus points for this variant, the higher surface sealing is a negative aspect.

However, a path that leads a little further across the Eyach and uses existing paths (5.7 kilometers, 1.8 million euros) would also be conceivable.

Here, however, the FFH area would be massively affected and the risk of flooding would be great.

A comparison of variants is now underway, taking nature conservation into account.

"It will remain an ongoing topic in the district council," Lenker does not believe in a quick result.

Cycle path on the state road near Iffeldorf

The St 2063 near Iffeldorf harbors several difficulties: Motorway access, water law regulations, nature conservation, difficult soil conditions and landowners who do not want to sell.

A tunnel solution is hardly feasible because of the groundwater level.

Lenker advocates a traffic light solution, which is the cheapest but effective.

The circuit can be perfectly adjusted, especially during rush hour traffic to Roche.

A loop with a thermal imaging camera is even conceivable for cyclists, which then automatically informs the traffic lights that a cyclist will soon want to cross the street.

Further in the direction of Untereurach, however, the traffic light should come away and a wavy traffic island should slow down the cars.

A traffic census should now provide even more precise data for planning.

Cycle path in Hohenpeissenberg

In the old district of Schongau, a lot is currently happening in terms of cycle paths.

At the Hohenpeissenberger through-road, for example.

A concept for this is currently being developed, which includes a footpath and cycle path.

The road should be limited to six to seven meters.

The two connection points from Hetten are to be adjusted and open out at a 90-degree angle.

Motorists are forced to slow down and passing cyclists are less endangered.

Cycling in the direction of Peißenberg should also be easier and possible along the road in order to avoid the previous detour.

Cycle route to Birkland

The plans on the St2014 near Birkland in the direction of Herzogsägmühle are already on the right track, thanks to good negotiations between Peiting's mayor Peter Ostenrieder and property owners, said Lenker with satisfaction.

Four construction phases are planned.

"It's going to be a relatively long bike path," says Lenker.

The situation is not easy because of Birkland itself.

A curb eight centimeters high, according to the wishes of the community and those who are giving up land, should also allow for the oncoming traffic of large vehicles.

Normal would be twelve centimeters.

"It's a compromise, otherwise we wouldn't have gotten the land," explained Lenker.

Cycle path Peiting-Schongau

A cycle path is also in prospect on the St2014 at the Loamer Stichl between Peiting and Schongau.

"You can then take a train from Schongau to Birkland or Peiting via the new cycle path," said Lenker, impressed by the plan.

The existing bike path is to be widened, and a traffic light is to enable safe crossing of Dießener Straße.

A crossing aid leads to the opposite side of the Mühlkanal Bridge.

Everything should be ready by summer.

The expansion of the cycle path, which leads further to Schongau, is not yet fully developed.

It is not yet clear whether a roundabout or a signal system will be set up at the UPM entrance.

It could continue here next year at the earliest.

The Lechbrücke remains a problem, the narrow superstructure of which would not allow safe cycling.

Closing the gap at Steingaden

A gap closure in the cycle network is planned on the B 17 north of Steingaden, but is currently failing due to some properties.

Something is also happening in Steingaden in the direction of Lechbruck.

The mayors of the neighboring municipalities are behind it.

Furthermore, the Lech Bridge in Gründl is to be started this year, as reported by Lenker and added: "It is expensive 100 meters, but sensible, because it is otherwise too narrow."

A sensible solution is also being sought south of Schönberg, which leads to Rottenbuch.

However, forest areas and the slopes are problematic.

According to Lenker, the general plans are primarily designed for everyday cycling and not for tourism.

An attempt is made to ensure that a cycle path, where possible, is passable through asphalt in all weather conditions and has a width of at least 2.50 m.

“No cycle path in the district has failed because of the money,” says Lenker, because there are many government subsidies.

On the other hand, the property owners do.

Linker therefore hopes that some will rethink or later heirs will decide differently and that the cycle paths, which are currently on hold, can be realized at some point.

By Ursula Gallmetzer