The district road 1623 between Gemmrigheim and Besigheim was completely closed shortly before Christmas 2023 after stones from a vineyard wall and boulders fell onto the carriageway and the cycle path alongside the road. Since mid-January 2024, motorized traffic has only been able to use one lane at this point. A signal system regulated traffic, as a temporary concrete safety wall was erected between the slope and the road to protect traffic from further rockfall. The service road and cycle path alongside the road was therefore completely closed. A second mobile protective wall was erected to protect pedestrians and cyclists from moving traffic.
No further demolitions since December 2023
In the meantime, the vineyard and the risk of rockfall have been examined and assessed. Since the first rockfalls, the area has been checked daily by road maintenance staff. They have not detected any further rockfalls since December 2023. The area will continue to be checked regularly in the future.
Tarpaulin protects against further erosion from precipitation
The district has coordinated solutions in close contact with the municipality of Gemmrigheim and the affected owner of the vineyard property. The German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) therefore covered the site of the slipped vineyard wall with a tarpaulin at the turn of the year. The tarpaulin protects the area from further erosion caused by rainfall. In addition, a temporary fence will be installed in the affected vineyard to catch any falling rocks.
The concrete safety barriers on the cycle path and farm track will be replaced by safety elements and moved towards the vineyard to create space for pedestrian and cycle traffic. There they will provide additional protection in the event of falling rocks. In future, cyclists and pedestrians will have access to an approximately two-metre-wide cycle and service path in this area.
