Does Forstinning need a bypass, or does it do more harm than good to the place? Over the past two years, only the local billboards have served as a reminder that there is considerable disagreement on this core issue. It was like a very long break. At the latest since Tuesday evening, however, the representatives of the opinions have been back from the tea break.
The occasion was Forstinning’s citizens’ meeting, which had also paused for two years in a row. After his lecture, Mayor Rupert Ostermair (CSU) gave the floor to the audience in the rectory – and they used this opportunity for a local political sweep. The central topic, with no fewer requests to speak, was the planned construction of a bypass that would, among other things, lead a kilometer through the Ebersberg forest. With the aim of relieving the state road 2080 through the Forstinningen district of Schwaberwegen. It is an important connection because it leads from the A 94 motorway to Ebersberg – and from there on towards south-eastern Bavaria.
The meeting provided one or the other indication that one or the other had happened during the Forstinninger blueprint. The contribution of Ludwig Seebauer, spokesman for an initiative that opposes the construction of the bypass through the forest, contributed to this. There are rumors in town that the construction of the bypass means that “a significant expansion of the commercial area” is being prepared, for example for discounters, according to Seebauer. “Is there any truth to these rumours?”
A public question with consequences
There is criticism in Seebauer’s question. It is often said that more asphalt attracts more traffic. Especially when the asphalt leads to an industrial area. Apart from this one question from Seebauer, the opponents of the circumvention did not report on the subject. Unlike in the two years after the Forstinninger municipal council – at that time still without a green faction – voted in favor of the plans in the summer of 2016. At the time, Seebauer’s initiative was loud and impulsive, some would say emotional. So now the break – and no more than this one question. But it certainly had implications.
The question went to Mayor Ostermair – and he answered: “I can’t say anything about that now.” Before he said a little about it. Only so much: “Local supply is always an issue.” No confirmation, certainly no denial.
For the residents of the St 2080 through the Schwaberwegen district of Forstinning, this street in front of their front doors has been a topic for many years. In the perception of many who live here, the traffic there has increased over the decades. This was also learned at the meeting, and several people who were obviously affected commented. “The truck traffic has increased so enormously, it’s unbearable,” said a local resident. The trucks would make such a loud noise that he would wake up regularly at night. “If you send this road through the Tüv, it will fail.”
Local residents are hoping for quick, pragmatic improvements to St 2080
If you take the citizens’ assembly alone, those who expressed their dissatisfaction with the traffic situation were in the majority. When is the bypass coming? This question worries her. One of the answers is that the planning approval process, which has been going on for three years, is at an advanced stage. Now comes the next step: according to the municipality, the planners have now drawn up statements on the objections raised. It is expected that mid-October will now see a “discussion date by the government of Upper Bavaria”, i.e. the planning approval authority, on site.
So it may take a while. Those who expressed their dissatisfaction with the situation at St 2080 in the town hall meeting seem to be aware of this. Which explains well why some used the meeting to present quick, pragmatic improvement approaches from their point of view.
One guest, for example, recommended lowering the speed limit from 50 to 30. Another gave the road surface an extremely bad report, combined with the hope of rework. Mayor Ostermair said that the condition of the road in question was “not the best” from his point of view. He will “point out the grievances” to the responsible road maintenance department in Ebersberg. The mayor also explained that the speedometer in Schwaberwegen, which had been removed for the time being, should be reinstalled there.