As part of its “Local Transport Plan 2015plus”, the city of Augsburg decided to build the new Line 5. In this project, the BERNARD Gruppe was commissioned by the municipal service company (swa) with the general planning contract. The local transport plan is an essential sub-project of the Augsburg mobility hub (MDA) with the aim of strengthening local public transport.

With a new length of approx. 4.5 km and five new stops, the future Line 5 will connect the main station with the University Hospital. In the double-track area of the tram line as well as the newly planned intersections, extensive construction measures in the adjacent road space will be required. The project also comprises transport infrastructure, the technical equipment and design of traffic lights, as well as civil engineering structures. In addition, expert opinions for noise, vibration and air hygiene as well as fauna must be prepared for the development of the environmental impact assessment report, which includes a special species protection assessment and the accompanying landscape conservation plan.

All required design services will be carried out in full by the BERNARD Gruppe as general planner.

The project will follow a tight schedule, with the commissioning of the entire Line 5 being planned for 2030. The design services for the new line were divided into three planning sections (1A, 1B and 2). Construction of part 1A, which is directly adjacent to the main station, is scheduled to begin in 2023, depending on the planning approval by the authorizing agency. According to the current planning status, planning approval for the longer section 2 in Bürgermeister-Ackermann Straße will be submitted in the same year. From the current perspective, we anticipate approval in 2025. Tender design work for sections 2 and 1B will begin immediately afterwards, with construction work expected to start in 2027.

Jost Mazur, BERNARD Gruppe