From Hildburg Bruns
There was radio silence between the district and the Senate for a long 67 weeks. Now suddenly, after the second driver attack with many victims, the anti-amok plan for City West is supposed to go very quickly!
“The time of weighing is over,” says District Mayor Kirstin Bauch (41, Greens). “The current situation shows the massive need to implement existing security concepts now.” She is already in discussion with the governing Franziska Giffey (44, SPD).
The principle: no more straight-line journeys to Breitscheidplatz, where you can accelerate at high speeds – from any direction.
A rescue helicopter landed on the median of the Tauentzien Photo: MICHELE TANTUSSI/REUTERS
► The plan for the northern area
Between Hotel Waldorf Astoria and Bikini Berlin, the two southern lanes of Budapester Strasse will be closed to Breitscheidplatz. The median is reinforced with bollards or other barrier construction measures. Cars will only have one lane in each direction on the zoo side – enough for a maximum of 4000 vehicles a day. And: Kantstrasse becomes a dead end at Joachimsthaler Strasse.
► The plan for the southern area
The median of Tauentzienstraße will be increased to 50 centimeters and the level of Rankestraße will be closed. From this street you can only turn right in the direction of KaDeWe. It is no longer possible to drive through to the northern side of the Tauentziens – only the fire brigade can drive over it. In order to slow down the pace in Rankestraße itself, the road should meander between green depressions.
However, CDU traffic expert Oliver Friederici (51) warns: “The victims’ tears have not dried yet, so the Greens in the district want to make political capital out of the horrific rampage.”
The map shows how the relocation of lanes is intended to prevent direct amok drives on Breitscheidplatz Photo: BILD/BZ
“The terrible concrete blocks and the ramps on the square can then all go,” says Transport Councilor Oliver Schruoffeneger (60, Greens). More filigree bollards around the square are sufficient. Because the impact force in parallel traffic is much lower than when driving straight ahead.
Why haven’t these concepts been implemented long ago?
Former Interior Senator Andreas Geisel (SPD) wanted to protect the northern area with a wall of letters “BERLIN” made of concrete and steel. Where terrorist Anis Amri broke through to the Christmas market in a truck in 2016. But that bothered the pastor of the Memorial Church (“banal”), city councilor Schruoffeneger (“provincial”) and monument protectors. The internal administration gave in, nothing more happened.
Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf
“It could have been clarified faster, but it was considered for a long time whether the lettering could be saved,” Schruoffeneger criticized the ex-Interior Senator Freitag.
Kudamm plan: only Tempo 30, then cars out
More security for the area around the zoo – for the SPD parliamentary group in the town hall this also means: get rid of the traffic on Kurfürstendamm!
“The Kurfürstendamm is to be transformed into an attractive boulevard with the residents – traffic is to be calmed by reducing the speed and structural changes,” says SPD man Alexander Sempf (37).
Ideas that have been circulating against PS posers and flashers for a long time.
The photo montage shows what Kurfürstendamm could look like if structural changes slowed down speeders Photo: Arne S. Reismüller
But the boulevard should not become as dead as Friedrichstrasse. The Kudamm should remain open for BVG buses, taxis, commercial traffic and, of course, rescue vehicles.
With all developments, however, it is important that City West does not become a fortress, but remains an open place in the city, according to the district politician.
As a first step, Tempo 30 must be introduced on Kurfürstendamm, according to the SPD politician. “In any case, we are dependent on the participation of the Senate,” says Sempf.