- Landrat Ulrich calls for lifting of the hall lockdown
County Administrator of the Burgenland District, Goetz Ulrich, has demanded the lifting of the current closure of the Saale due to repair works on railway bridges. "The closure order by the State Administrative Office was issued so abruptly and without prior notice that residents, canoe rental companies, restaurateurs, and camping site operators were completely caught off guard," said the CDU politician. Deutsche Bahn aims to renovate three bridges over the river in the Bad Kösen area by the end of May 2025.
Ulrich called for the immediate lifting of the full closure of the Saale between the Großheringen waterway rest area and Bad Kösen, which has been in place since July 11. It was suggested that safe passage underneath the Saale bridges 9 and 10 in Bad Kösen could be established with appropriate measures.
Alternatives in Progress
Together with the city of Naumburg, the county is currently working on solutions to "restore the continuous navigability of the Saale and ensure it during the construction work," said Ulrich. The county administrator is also supported by Naumburg's Mayor, Armin Müller (CDU). "The full closure of the Saale has far-reaching negative impacts on our region," he said.
The State Administrative Office had previously shortened the closure. Since Wednesday, the 3.5-kilometer stretch from the Bad Kösen ship landing to the Bad Kösen weir is again accessible for waterway users and other users.
State Administrative Office Sees Closure as Inevitable
In a statement, representatives of several authorities and the railway agreed in a renewed discussion following complaints that the closure of the remaining river area is "inevitable for safety reasons." The office cited the danger posed by pontons and the strong current near bridges, among other things.
Deutsche Bahn plans to renovate three bridges over the river in the Bad Kösen area by the end of May 2025. Originally, a full closure of the river over approximately 10.5 kilometers was approved - this faced resistance from the tourism sector and calls for alternative solutions.
Ulrich mentioned that German Railways, specifically Deutsche Bahn, is responsible for the renovation of three bridges over the Saale in Bad Kösen, as part of their plans by the end of May 2025. Due to these repairs, the Saale had been closed, causing significant negative impacts on the region.
