Clearing work in Cologne: New water pipe causes traffic chaos!

Clearing work in Cologne: New water pipe causes traffic chaos!

From Monday, October 20th, the south of Cologne will be affected by significant traffic restrictions. The reason for this is necessary clearing work in Rodenkirchen, which is necessary for the construction of a new water transport pipeline. These measures are part of a larger project to permanently ensure a safe drinking water supply in Cologne Day24 reported.

The new line will connect the RheinEnergie fountain gallery in the Weißer Bogen area with the waterworks in Cologne-Hochkirchen. The route stretches for around eight kilometers and runs through forest areas and along the industrial road near the Forest Botanical Garden. In order not to endanger the existing infrastructure, the new pipeline will be built parallel to an existing water pipeline. After commissioning, which is planned for the end of 2027, the old line will be decommissioned.

Clearing work and traffic disruptions

The clearing work affects several streets: On Ensener Weg, on Unteren Weißer Weg near the sewage treatment plant, on An der Weißer Straße and on Sürther Straße, also near Grüngurtstraße. The area between Industriestraße, the railway tracks and the street “An den Vier Linden” as well as the route between the Hochkirchen waterworks and the A555 will also be affected. A closure of the road to the forest botanical garden has already been announced Day24.

The work was approved in close coordination with the city and nature conservation authorities. In order to compensate for the loss of the tree population, RheinEnergie is planning reforestation to compensate for the trees removed. However, the exact time frame for the measures remains unclear. RheinNetz asks residents and road users to understand the inevitable disruption.

Sustainability in focus

A particularly notable aspect of this project is the focus on sustainable logistics. As the Cologne public utility company reports, the first pipes for the new water pipe are being delivered in a climate-friendly manner. The cast iron pipes, which measure up to 1.20 meters in diameter, come from the manufacturer SAINT-GOBAIN PAM and are currently being transported by truck from Saarbrücken and Pont-à-Mousson in France. A sustainable logistics concept called “Blueway Transport” is used, in which trucks run on the low-CO₂ biofuel HVO, which is made from recycled waste.

By using HVO, CO₂ emissions can be reduced by more than 80 percent compared to conventional diesel. The delivery of all the pipes is expected to save around 24 tonnes of CO₂. This underlines the environmentally friendly approach of Cologne's infrastructure projects the Cologne municipal utilities emphasize.

Overall, this important project not only shows commitment to a safe drinking water supply, but also a good hand for sustainable development in Cologne. With a little patience and understanding, the people of Cologne will soon be able to benefit from a modern water infrastructure that also benefits the environment.