Potential collapse risk at Wilmersdorf's BVG plant could be catastrophic
Title: The Good Old Cicerostraße Bus Garage's Tough Rebirth
Breaking Down the Struggle with U1 to U4
Embracing the Challenges of the U-Bahn in Berlin
The iconic Cicerostraße bus garage, nestled just a stone's throw from the Kurfürstendamm in Wilmersdorf, has faced a significant setback. Since January, its operational capacity has been severely restricted, and the service and workshop hall housing 250 buses – including popular lines like M19, M29, M46, and M48 – have been inaccessible due to potential structural collapse.
Uncovered Corrosion Woes
The culprit? The hall's steel structure, built around 1957, carries a risk of failure due to stress corrosion cracking. This grim revelation is documented in a tender recently published by the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), who seek experts to design a new building. With the risk assessment handed over on January 27, the affected section of the hall was immediately shut down.
No Half Measures
Partial repairs or renovations are out of the question, as the building has already surpassed its useful life. Instead, a new structure, estimated to cost a hefty 66 million euros, will take its place. The commune aims to provide a permanent, long-term solution for 208 buses, factoring in the emergence of electric buses.
Faster, Smoother, Greener
The BVG is swiftly pushing forward with the plans, hoping to commence the planning phase in July. If all goes according to plan, the new maintenance workshop should break ground in October 2026, with services commencing a year later. The new service hall is slated for operation in October 2028, followed by the completion of the entire project with the handover of new parking spaces in June 2029.
Wading Through the Storm
The path ahead is fraught with challenges, ranging from securing approval from external bodies like the waterworks and the district office of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, to navigating the tight financial straits of the Senate administration. The Senate administration's austerity measures have halved the budget originally earmarked for local infrastructure investments in public transportation, leaving the 66 million euros for the new garage a significant amount to secure.
Roots Run Deep
The Cicerostraße bus garage is a piece of history, having been Berlin's first bus garage, which opened in 1899 as a street garage. Closed during World War II and reduced to allotment gardens, it reopened in 1958 as the current bus garage we know today. Nonetheless, the current situation presents a steep challenge for the BVG, one they must rise to if they hope to maintain efficient and reliable transportation services in the beloved city of Berlin.
- Due to the economic burden, the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) might need to look towards various industries for potential funding, such as finance or transportation, to secure the 66 million euros needed for the new bus garage.
- Another challenge for the BVG is ensuring the proposed new bus garage is energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, aligning with the growing trends in the transportation industry and global finance's focus on sustainable investments.
