Railway crossing on Hankelweg: Citizens defend themselves against the destruction of nature!

Railway crossing on Hankelweg: Citizens defend themselves against the destruction of nature!

In Zeuthen, the debate about the level-free railway crossing on Hankelweg is currently in full swing. Residents and politicians disagree about the best way to make transportation safer and more effective. A recently published report has identified the Hankelweg as the preferred option for the railway crossing, but this is causing a lot of discussion in the community. Critics question the criteria for selecting the location, including the citizens' initiative, which fears the massive destruction of nature and the felling of around 6,000 trees. The initiative is supported by rbb reporter Caroline Marchot, who advocates for citizens' concerns, reports Schulzendorfer.

The solution to the problem is complex because the discussion about a level-free railway crossing has been going on for two decades. However, Mayor Philipp Martens has assured that he is sticking to his election promise: forests and nature must be protected. In this context, Zeuthen local councilor Christine Wehle criticizes the weighting of the environmental criteria in the report, which, as she emphasizes, did not adequately take all concerns into account. In addition, NABU Dahmeland e.V. was not represented on the evaluation committee, which raises additional concerns.

Detailed study and citizen dialogue

The starting point of this heated debate is determined by the results of the study to determine the locations of level-free railway crossings in northern Dahmeland. This study, which was financed by the Dahme-Spreewald district and coordinated by the Dialogforum Airport Berlin Brandenburg, envisages the construction of a bridge or tunnel. Both options are technically feasible, with the tunnel intended to offer advantages for bicycle traffic. District Administrator Sven Herzberger emphasizes the importance of collaboration for the study and values ​​it as a solid basis for further planning and implementation.

The “Railway Crossings” steering group favors the suggestion for improvement on Hankelweg, but this is met with dissatisfaction among many residents. The mayor points out that the final decision ultimately lies with the municipal council. Public participation is also envisaged in order to ensure a transparent discussion. If no consensus can be reached, a referendum could be used to clearly reflect the opinions of the people of Zeuthen, as reported on Zeuthen.

The need for a crossing

One argument in favor of the planned crossing is the increasing number of times the barriers are closed, which could potentially affect the accessibility of emergency services. However, NABU boss Matthias Rackwitz denies that the crossing is essential for emergency doctors, as a tunnel in Wildau is already used as a bypass. Proposals to build a new rescue center on the eastern side of the railway are also being discussed.

The topic remains exciting and citizens are encouraged to actively participate in the discussion. Whether the planned railway crossing on Hankelweg is the right solution will become clear in the coming weeks when the municipal council has to make further decisions. The debate will also be broadcast on television by rbb on Saturday, which underlines the relevance of this topic. The people of Zeuthen are facing a decisive decision for the future of their infrastructure and the nature around their community.