19.09.2025
The redesign of Willemerstraße is an example of how all road users can benefit from an intelligent and pragmatic redistribution of road space. Pedestrian traffic, in particular, benefits significantly, as parking on the sidewalks was previously a major problem, which has now been solved by the two new side parking lanes. At the same time, space was created for a safe cycle path that connects to existing routes. By reducing to a single shared lane for straight-ahead and turning traffic – given the already low traffic volume – the street also remains functional for car traffic.
“This measure is a successful example of how small and targeted interventions can lead to more quality of life, safety, and traffic equity for everyone. The way the road space was previously divided, there simply wasn’t enough space, especially for pedestrian traffic,” says Martin Huber, spokesperson for mobility and climate policy for Volt in the Römer.
However, the positive effect of this measure is now overshadowed by coordination problems. After construction work had already taken place this year, followed by the traffic redesign, new construction work is now taking place again. Starting in September, Willemerstraße will be completely closed for almost a year as Mainova carries out urgently needed work to expand the district heating network. These construction measures are important and correct, but they also show that coordination between the city and utility companies urgently needs to be improved. According to the city council’s response during the question time of the plenary session on September 18, 2025, the district heating measure was not yet known at the time the traffic redesign was ordered.
“Frankfurt faces a multitude of construction sites in the coming years in the course of the energy and heating transition, as well as the mobility transition. This is just one exemplary case for the relevance of successful construction site coordination. To ensure the acceptance of such measures and to avoid unnecessary duplication of work, construction and traffic projects must be much more closely coordinated in the future and carried out in a logical sequence. If the traffic redesign of Willemerstraße had been carried out after the work by Mainova, i.e., in the summer of 2026, the change would have been more understandable and better accepted, and it would have been much easier to get used to a redesign of the traffic space,” says Martin Huber.
Volt in the Römer therefore calls for forward-thinking construction site coordination. All project developers are called upon to act here. This is the only way to reconcile climate protection, the mobility transition, and the concerns of the citizens.
