It hasn’t been this bad in Frankfurt for a long time
The frost in December badly affected Frankfurt’s streets. New reports come in every day.
Frankfurt -Where do the holes come from? The question may arise as to who will return to Frankfurt after the winter holiday. Almost every day, new potholes are indicated on the city’s defect report (https://www.ffm.de).
For example, on Kilianstädter Straße in Fechenheim, where, according to the defect reporter, there were several potholes in the direction of travel towards the city centre. Also like the Mörfelder Landstraße in Sachsenhausen, also towards the city centre. Along about 100 meters, holes are lined up in the middle of the lane. Or in the west of Frankfurt. On Bolongarostraße just before the bend to Nied: If you are in the right lane past the preferred district office and want to head in the direction of Mainzer Landstraße, you should drive very carefully where the red and white lane separators begin and, if necessary, better pass the tram next to you because there you have to dodge two deep potholes – one of them reaches down to the cobblestones that are hidden under the asphalt.
City begins repairs
Potholes appear everywhere where water can penetrate the road surface. When it freezes, it expands and blasts the asphalt. Temperature fluctuations put a strain on the roads. Every year there is new damage to roads, bridges, paths and squares. While it’s mild at the moment, there were a couple of sub-zero nights before Christmas and that has left its mark. The responsible office for road construction and development (ASE) has been repairing this since Monday.
“We always keep a close eye on the condition of the streets and squares. But especially in the winter months things sometimes happen very quickly. Information from the public is then a good addition to being able to carry out a repair quickly,” says the head of the ASE, Michaela C. Kraft. She adds: “Our construction district teams are already in the process of fixing potholes and minor damage that are now appearing and are caused by the freezing temperatures in mid-December.”
Frost damage costs the city millions of euros every year
Kraft has not yet been able to say anything about the financial burdens caused by the frosty days. After the harsh winter of 2012, however, the renovation costs more than two million euros, after a mild winter only around 1.5 million. Currently, Kraft estimates, the winter damage is comparable to that of a year ago.
Since Monday, January 2nd, the three construction districts of the ASE have been receiving reports of weather-related frost damage again, also under the authority number 115. City Councilor Stefan Majer (Greens), Head of Mobility and Health, had declared before the turn of the year that the workers of the executing construction companies now only seal the holes with cold asphalt. When it is warmer again, a classic renovation can be tackled.
Potholes: CDU candidate makes them an issue in the election campaign
The topic is also suitable for election campaigns: “Certainly not every pothole in every side street can be repaired immediately, but it is unacceptable that dangerous potholes are not planned for days even on main roads in Frankfurt,” says Uwe Becker, candidate of the CDU for the mayoral post. “Perhaps the magistrate should leave the bucket or two of red paint on their priorities until our roads are properly repaired. Because such potholes are a great risk of injury, especially for cyclists.”
But the ASE has enough to do without the red color. The defect reporter now has more pothole reports than bulky waste notices. Friedberger Landstraße, Falkensteiner Straße, Ziegenhainer Straße, Breitlacher Straße, Zeppelinallee, Schumannstraße, Hügelstraße, Gutzkowstraße are the most recent entries. The Pfaffenwiese was reported on December 31st, on January 2nd it was provisionally repaired. It can’t always go that fast. If you look at the approximately 3,400 public roads in Frankfurt with a total length of around 1,450 kilometers, you have to be patient until the damage has been repaired, at least temporarily. (Thomas J. Schmidt, Holger Vonhof)