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Boardwalk closure stops excursions: companies in need!
In Seehausen, the Bohlenweg remains closed for renovation, which has negative consequences for local businesses, especially on Ascension Day.
Boardwalk closure stops excursions: companies in need!
The closure of the boardwalk on the railway bridge over the Elbe has far-reaching effects on the region. Currently, the access to the Bohlenweg on the Wittenberg side in the direction of the Verbandsgemeinde of Seehausen an Himmelfahrt remains closed. This affects the route between Losenrade and Wittenberge and represents an additional hurdle for the establishment of cycle tourism. Companies in the Altmark and the Prignitz are severely affected by the effects of the closure, such as az-online.de reported.
On Ascension Day, a popular day for excursions, especially for Altmark residents to destinations in the Prignitz, numerous visitors would otherwise have come to the Old Oil Mill. Here the band Prignitzfabrik provides live music and culinary offerings. Lutz Lange, operator of the Alte Ölmühle and chairman of the Westprignitz economic initiative, expresses his dissatisfaction with the long closure, which has been in place since October 2024. Around 30% of its sales come from visitors from Saxony-Anhalt who go on day trips. Lange criticizes the ignorance of those responsible regarding the delays in replacing the plank surface.
Economic consequences and decline in visitor numbers
The consequences of the closure don't just affect the old oil mill. The couple Axel and Kerstin Schuster, operators of a sheep farm, guesthouse and farm shop in Beuster, also have to contend with a decline in visitor numbers. Normally they would receive many day trippers on Ascension Day, but the closure of the cycle path is having a noticeable impact. Axel Schuster reports reduced frequency of their offers, which can have serious economic consequences for the company.
The city of Wittenberge has announced an extension of the closure until summer 2025. Deutsche Bahn, the owner of the bridge, is responsible for the situation. The planned renovation, which includes replacing the wooden plank covering with grating elements, was originally scheduled to be completed at the end of 2024. Technical adjustments to the statics of the new surface are now responsible for the delays. Completion is not expected until the second quarter of 2025, which once again represents a challenge for the local economy.
A challenge for cycle tourism
Just before the cycling season begins, the closure of the Bohlenweg is a setback for cycle tourism in Germany, which has been booming. According to the ADFC cycle trip analysis 2023, 4.6 million people took a cycle trip in 2022, an increase compared to 3.9 million the previous year. In addition, 38 million people in Germany have taken at least one day trip by bike. mobilitaetsforum.bund.de emphasizes that well-developed infrastructure is crucial for cycle tourism and that rural regions that are aligned with these developments can benefit.
The lack of usability of the Elbe cycle path near Wittenberge severely limits the options for cyclists. Cyclists are forced to use the B189 road bridge, which can impact cyclists' experience and safety.