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Domplatte under control: renovation of the dilapidated underground car park started!
Renovation of the dilapidated underground car park under Cologne Cathedral leads to closures. Focus on safety, damage and urgent measures.
Domplatte under control: renovation of the dilapidated underground car park started!
Due to serious deficiencies in the underground car park under Cologne Cathedral, the city of Cologne has decided to close part of the cathedral plate. This step is necessary because the stability of the construction is at risk and thorough renovation must be carried out. An area measuring 14 by 17 meters, which extends between the cathedral forum and the south tower, was temporarily cordoned off for the renovation work, it was reported Review online. The city administration has taken these measures as a purely precautionary measure to ensure that excessive pressure is not placed on the affected parts of the cathedral plate.
The recently carried out test drilling revealed that the quality of the concrete in the underground car park does not meet the regulations. In particular, it is apparent that one of the important supports is suffering from corrosion, thereby endangering the safety of the entire system. Support for the affected column with a steel structure has already been planned and implemented Express reported.
Measures and effects
The closure is expected to remain in place until at least early September. During this time, heavy loads in the area of the cathedral plate, such as trucks, fire engines and garbage collectors, are categorically prohibited. However, there is no danger for normal passenger traffic and small gatherings. However, there are restrictions on setting up stages, which could be important for events.
The city of Cologne is aware of the urgency of these measures. The issue was raised in the city council as early as 2022 after an engineering firm discovered significant corrosion damage in 2017. In addition, similar problems with dilapidated concrete in other underground car parks in Cologne, such as the Groß St. Martin car park, show that this is a widespread problem. Problems caused by decades of neglect of the building structure and inadequate maintenance now need to be urgently addressed, as stated on the website Kraft SanTec can be read.
Costs and outlook
The costs for the renovation, which began in 2023 and is currently being carried out in the northern part of the underground car park, were originally calculated at 1.4 million euros. However, it could be that this amount is not enough to remedy all of the deficiencies mentioned. The administration is therefore already preparing a template for additional measures and a revised cost calculation.
Overall, it is clear that the city of Cologne faces a serious challenge in ensuring the safety of underground car parks in the city. The preliminary renovation measures in the area of the cathedral plate are only a first step towards assuming responsibility for the maintenance of such important infrastructure.