The 2.7 hectares of Fechenheimer forest, which is required for the construction of the Riederwald tunnel in the east of Frankfurt, which has been planned for years and is to be cleared in late autumn or winter, are still the property of the city of Frankfurt.

But not for long.

In principle, this has been certain since the end of 2019, even if the politically strongest force in Römer, the Greens, will only grudgingly agree to the change of ownership.

However, the planning approval decision for the construction project, which is intended to close the gap between the Autobahn 66 near the Hessen Center and the A 661 at Erlenbruch, already includes the expropriation of the areas.

This resolution dates from December 2019 and is effective immediately.

And yet, in the end, an agreement under private law between Frankfurt and the federal government as the project sponsor for the motorway project is necessary.

Mechthild Harting

Editor in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.

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According to information from the FAZ, an understanding between the city and the federal government, which is ultimately represented by Autobahn GmbH, about this agreement is now in sight.

Because Frankfurt has submitted a “permission agreement” to the company.

Autobahn GmbH still has to agree to this.

It is said that both sides have previously held talks with each other.

Traffic safety in the forest

According to reports, such an agreement regulates, for example, which side is responsible for traffic safety in the forest as long as it still exists, which areas may be used for the time the construction site is set up, and also which access roads are permitted and which are not.

Basically, experts say, such an amicable private law agreement is in the interest of the city of Frankfurt.

Because in it you can formulate wishes, usually those that the city administration has previously agreed with Autobahn GmbH.

Frankfurt can no longer fundamentally question the project.

From the municipal side, Rosemarie Heilig’s environmental department (Die Grünen) was primarily concerned with the content and wording of the “permission agreement”,

Autobahn GmbH had already become active before this.

On April 1, she had applied to the Darmstadt Regional Council, the responsible expropriation authority, for a so-called “early possession instruction” as of July 1 of this year.

Such a step is considered to be a completely standardized and customary procedure.

"But it's always better to clarify things bilaterally: that's easier and better," say experts in planning law.

If the Autobahn GmbH agrees to the permit agreement now submitted by the city, then the authorization to possess the vehicle is no longer necessary.

However, last autumn the GmbH found out painfully that an agreement is required in any case, and this may have made the tree occupations that have taken place in the meantime only possible to the current extent.

Because in autumn 2021, Autobahn GmbH publicly announced that this section of the Fechenheim forest would be felled, without an agreement or having applied for “early ownership”.

The trees stopped.

The trees are supposed to fall this winter

It is disputed who made the mistake at the time: Autobahn GmbH, which did not seek the agreement in good time, or the city of Frankfurt, which was recalcitrant.

Each page presents things from their point of view.

This winter the trees are finally supposed to fall, including many old forest trees.

As can be heard, Autobahn GmbH is currently preparing the EU-wide tender for a first section of the two tunnel tubes and troughs.

The 1.1 kilometer long Riederwald Tunnel is being built using the cut-and-cover method.

There is talk of a start of construction in 2023. The construction period is estimated at eight years.