Rhine-Ferth Tunnel undergoes closure at night for a duration of four months in Düsseldorf
The Rhine Embankment Tunnel in Cologne is set for a significant transformation as over 1,100 outdated high-pressure sodium vapor lamps are to be replaced with LED lights. This project, the first part of which focuses on installing cable trusses under the tunnel ceiling in both directions of traffic, is scheduled to commence on June 23, 2022, and conclude by October 31, 2022, at an estimated cost of 10.4 million euros gross.
During the conversion period, the tunnel will be closed from Monday to Thursday each week from 9 pm to 5 am. However, the city has designed the nighttime closure times to be flexible, accommodating major events such as the Rhine carnival, trade fairs, or concerts. In such cases, work will be paused, and the Rhine embankment tunnel will be open at night.
The city also plans to use the closure times for additional maintenance and repair work. This includes dismantling the existing analog radio system, extensive cleaning of the tunnel walls and operational facilities, and half-yearly major maintenance.
For traffic coming from the south, the detour route will be U55, directing vehicles via Mecumstraße, Corneliusstraße, Berliner Allee, Kaiser- and Fischerstraße. Trucks coming from Neuss via the south ring will be routed via the truck ring to the north.
On the other hand, vehicles coming from the north (U 58) will be signposted from the Kennedy dam and led via Fischerstraße, Kö-Bogen Tunnel, Berliner Allee, Graf-Adolf-Platz, Elisabethstraße, and Merowingerstraße to the south ring. Vehicles coming from the Rhine knee bridge will be routed via the southern detour route U58 via Elisabethstraße and Merowingerstraße to the south ring.
Another closure is scheduled from May to August 2026 for the installation of lighting bodies and cable pulling work in the southbound direction. The detour recommendations will be signposted from Monday to the end of October 2022.
It is recommended that for the most up-to-date project schedules, detour instructions, and related maintenance activities, individuals consult official regional transport authority websites or specific announcements from the agency managing the Rhine embankment tunnel infrastructure. The entire system will be tested and commissioned after the works are completed.
The city is utilizing the tunnel closure times for improvements not only limited to LED light installation, but also includes the dismantling of the existing analog radio system and extensive cleaning of the tunnel walls. The restructuring in the Rhine Embankment Tunnel's industry sector, which includes finance for the project and transportation adjustments, will certainly impact various sectors of Cologne's transportation system.
