The new A 42 autobahn turn-off in Gelsenkirchen opened for traffic today, well in time for the 2006 FIFA World Cup™. World Cup visitors will be able to drive straight to the Arena via the new junction, thus substantially reducing the amount of traffic in the city centre.

Gelsenkirchen mayor Frank Baranowski and state transport minister Oliver Wittke jointly opened the new junction at a small ceremony on the adjacent park and ride facility.

Baranowski emphasised that the good transport infrastructure at the heart of the Ruhr permitted the creation of new jobs and perspectives in Gelsenkirchen. The city had the backbone for this and the A 42 turn-off was another important piece in the puzzle on the road to positive economic development.

"The forthcoming World Cup is naturally a factor here. Gelsenkirchen in particular will benefit from this major sporting event. And I'm sure the effects won't fade away. It's going to be of long-term benefit for the city ", said Baranowski. Transport minister Oliver Wittke pointed out that North-Rhine Westphalia had invested a total of 200 million euros in road improvements in the state's three World Cup host cities.

The roadworks on the remodelled Uferstrasse are also being completed. This infrastructure improvement will not only make it significantly easier to reach the Veltins Arena, but also strengthen Gelsenkirchen's economic muscle.

Technical information:

Preparatory work, site clearing operations and unexploded ordnance searches began in December 2002.

Work officially started on 3 December 2003 and took around 2 ¼ years to complete at a total cost of approx. 25 million euros.

During this time some 160,000 cubic metres of earth was moved, 3,000 metres of pipe (DN 300 - DN 600) laid and 60,000 square metres of road, parking, pavement and cycle path built. Four traffic signal units were also erected.

The new junction also necessitated the construction of two new bridge structures across railway lines and a local stream.