Bernburg. Newly developed cycle path links instead of old legal disputes over the district levy: The Salzlandkreis has agreed with the town of Schönebeck to build a cycle path along district road 1296 between Elbenau and Grünewalde, and with the town of Güsten to rebuild and extend sections of the connecting Wipper Cycle Path between Güsten, Amesdorf, Warmsdorf and Giersleben. The district council had already approved the negotiated settlements in March as part of the resolutions to settle the legal disputes.
"We are now looking ahead and together we are shaping our residential and business location, in agreement with the municipalities and for the citizens," said District Administrator Markus Bauer in Bernburg. "With the two agreements that we are signing today, the Salzland district is actively contributing to pushing forward modern mobility in the countryside, in line with our Salzlandkreis 2030 strategy for the future." The district administrator emphasised that the planned cycle paths are important for both everyday cycling and tourism development. "Both projects show that the rural area between Halle and Magdeburg offers opportunities."
District Administrator Markus Bauer welcomed Mayor Bert Knoblauch and Mayor Michael Kruse to the district administration office in Bernburg on Wednesday to sign the municipal agreements negotiated with Schönebeck and Güsten. They signed the respective municipal agreements one after the other. The Salzland district is responsible for the realisation and financing of both projects and has already applied for the necessary funding. According to current cost estimates, a further 4.2 million euros could be invested in the regional cycle path network. Construction is scheduled for 2028/29.
The previous negotiations with the town of Schönebeck centred on the outstanding lawsuits against final district levy notices for 2019 and 2022 - with a total value in dispute of around one million euros. In order to finally settle them, the mutual settlement now provides for the construction of a roadside cycle path along the district road 1296 over the almost two kilometres between Elbenau and Grünewalde to improve the regional cycle path network. The current cost estimate for the project, including planning, is almost 1.3 million euros. Mayor Bert Knoblauch commented: "We are creating a safer route for cycle traffic in the region and providing further impetus for tourism development." He was delighted that the legal disputes could finally be brought to an end with the agreement.
The necessary funding applications for the construction of the cycle path have already been submitted by the district administration; the highest possible funding rate is 90 per cent. However, no decision has yet been made. The Salzland district will provide the necessary own funds, even if costs increase, and has already put the planning services out to tender. The project in Schönebeck is associated with a number of challenges, as it affects protected areas and forest has to be converted. After completion, the Salzland district will be responsible for road construction for the part of the cycle path on the open stretch between Elbenau and Grünewalde, while the town of Schönebeck will be responsible for the part in Grünewalde. If everything goes according to plan, construction is scheduled for 2028/2029.
A lawsuit with the town of Güsten regarding the 2017 district allocation decision had also not yet been finalised. In the end, 1.26 million euros were still at stake, for which an amicable, out-of-court solution was sought. The Salzland district and the town have found this in the extension and partial new construction of the Wipper cycle path over around three kilometres from Güsten to the Giersleben district boundary, with the Salzland district acting as the project and pre-financing provider for the overall measure if the possible funding flows. Güsten's mayor, Michael Kruse, said he was glad that things would soon be getting underway. "The citizens have always wanted to have a reliable connection between Amesdorf and Warmsdorf."
The investment cost for the work in three sections - from Wipperstraße in Güsten to Amesdorf, with the construction of a new Wipper bridge, from Amesdorf to Warmsdorf and Warmsdorf to Giersleben - is estimated at over 2.9 million euros. The Salzland district will also make a financial contribution of 180,000 euros. The Salzland district, the town of Güsten and the municipality of Saale-Wipper are forming a working group to accompany the planning process. After completion, the town of Güsten will retain or assume the road construction responsibility for all sections of the cycle path.