Hamburg, Germany
City population: 1698688
Duration: 2012 – 2028
Implementation status: Ongoing
Scale: Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Project area: 250000 m2
Type of area: Other
Last updated: October 2021

The aim of the project was to extend and cover one of Germany’s busiest highways, the south-north highway (A7). The highway had divided neighborhoods from each other and had had negative environmental effects like noise and air pollution. The new green roof will have three parts that connect the existing green surfaces to each other, these parts constitute the three phases of the construction. The urban areas in the vicinity of the noise-reduced motorway will be developed for residential construction. The project also includes the reconstruction of the Langenfelder Brücke in a way which makes the bridge wider, and also provides better noise protection for locals. (Reference 10) In September 2020, only the first phase has been completed, and the final completion is planned for 2028. (Reference 1, 3, 12).

Green Ribbon from Elbe to Volkspark - Hamburg-Altona Highway District Cover (2017)
Green Ribbon from Elbe to Volkspark - Hamburg-Altona Highway District Cover (2017)
LRW Architekten und Stadtplaner/BSW, retrieved 08/22/2018 from Anna Pilatz

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Nature on buildings (external)
  • Green roofs
  • Parks and urban forests
  • Green corridors and green belts
  • Community gardens and allotments
  • Allotments

Key challenges

  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Green space creation and/or management
  • Environmental quality
  • Air quality improvement
  • Noise reduction
  • Regeneration, land-use and urban development
  • Regulation of built environment
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation
  • Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
  • Real estate development

Focus

Creation of new green areas, Other

Project objectives

- noise protection - better air quality - implementing a green recreational area - creating new allotment gardens along the new tunnel - implementation of meadows and pathways - connecting the currently divided neighbourhoods to each other (Reference 1, 2, 3)

Implementation activities

- The first section, which includes the Schnelsen tunnel, was completed and in 2018. - The Langenfeld Bridge was also handed over in 2018. The eight-lane bridge has noise protection elements over seven meters high, which improve the quality of life of residents regarding traffic noise. (Reference 10) - The second section is still under construction. - Construction of the third phase was started in March 2020 (Reference 9)

Main beneficiaries

  • National-level government
  • Local government/Municipality
  • Citizens or community groups

Governance

Management set-up

  • Government-led

Type of initiating organisation

  • Local government/municipality

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Dissemination of information and education
  • Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

The federal government is the building contractor for the intervention. The large-scale project is to be carried out by the Hamburg Ministry of Urban Development and Environment (Behörde für Stadtentwicklung und Umwelt, BSU) and the Hamburg Ministry of Economy, Transport and Innovation (Behörde für Wirtschaft, Verkehr und Innovation, BWVI) together with the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs (Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Bau und Stadtentwicklung) and other partners, including the DEGES. (German Unity motorway planning and construction company), which is responsible for planning. Most of the work is financed by the federal government. The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg is contributing to the construction cost of the additional cover sections and their design" (Reference 6, 11).

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Yes (In 2011, Hamburg was chosen to be the Green Capital of the EU (Reference 4). This programme aims to promote and award commitment and innovation to resolve environmental challenges in cities (Reference 5). The covering of the highway is in line with the green strategy that the Green Capital Award projected and it is mentioned in the selective report of the city ("Hamburg: European Green Capital: Five years on") being published in 2016 (Reference 4).)
... a national policy or strategy? Unknown
... a local policy or strategy? Yes (The project appears in the city's urban development strategy being published in 2014 (Hamburg 2030) for a green, inclusive and growing city (Reference 7).)

Financing

Total cost

More than €4,000,000

Source(s) of funding

  • Public national budget
  • Public local authority budget
  • Corporate investment

Type of funding

  • Earmarked public budget
  • Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
  • Other

Non-financial contribution

Unknown

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Environmental quality
  • Improved air quality
  • Reduced noise exposure

Economic impacts

  • Stimulate development in deprived areas
  • Attraction of business and investment

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Improved liveability
  • Improved access to urban green space
  • Increased access to healthy/affordable food
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Improved physical health
  • Gain in activities for recreation and exercise

Type of reported impacts

Expected impacts, Achieved impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Unknown

Presence of indicators used in reporting

No evidence in public records

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

No evidence in public records

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

References

1. Source link. (2017). Tunnel - Deckel drauf: A 7-Tunnelbau in Altona. [online] Available at: Source link 04 Sept. 2020].
2. Behörde für Stadtentwicklung und Wohnen. (2017). Ausbau der BAB A 7 Abschnitt Altona: Informationsveranstaltung Kollegiensaal Rathaus Altona, 18. Januar 2017. Hamburg: Hamburg, Behörde für Stadtentwicklung und Wohnen.
3. Boyer, M. (2011). Hamburg is Building a Giant Green Roof Cover Over Sections of the A7 Motorway. Inhabitat. [online] Available at: Source link 04 Sept. 2020].
4. Source link. (2017). European Green Capital. [online] Available at: Source link 04 Sept. 2020].
5. Ministry of Environment and Energy. (2016). Hamburg – European Green Capital: 5 Years On: The city takes further. Hamburg: Ministry of Environment and Energy. Avilable at: Source link [Accessed: 04 Sept. 2020]
6. Ministry of Urban Development and Environment and Ministry of Economy, Transport and Innovation. (2012) Open space and tranquillity: Improvement scheme and cover for the A7. Hamburg: Ministry of Urban Development and Environment and Ministry of Economy, Transport and Innovation. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 04 Sept. 2020]
7. Behörde für Stadtentwicklung und Umwelt. (2014). Hamburg 2030 - Green, inclusive, growing city by the water: Perspectives on Urban development in Hamburg. Hamburg: Behörde für Stadtentwicklung und Umwelt. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 04 Sept. 2020]
8. Source link GmbH. (2017). Deckel Altona. Hamburg. [image] Available at: Source link [Accessed: 04 Sept. 2020].
9. Behörde für Wirtschaft und Innovation. (nd.) Die A 7 in Hamburg: Eine der höchsten Verkehrsbelastungen in Deutschland. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 04 Sept. 2020]
10. Source link. (nd.) A7/Langenfeld Bridge, Hamburg, Germany. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 04 Sept. 2020]
11. Schleswig-Holstein. (nd.) Ausbau der A 7. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 04 Sept. 2020]
12. Behörde für Wirtschaft und Innovation. (nd.) Die Finanzierung: Hamburg beteiligt sich. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 04 Sept. 2020].