Hesse: before the construction of the Riederwald tunnel: search for long-horned beetles

Frankfurt/Main (dpa/lhe) - Before the start of construction work on the Riederwald tunnel and the expansion of the A66 in the east of Frankfurt, the possible occurrence of the rare longhorn beetle in the area should be checked.

Hesse: before the construction of the Riederwald tunnel: search for long-horned beetles

Frankfurt/Main (dpa/lhe) - Before the start of construction work on the Riederwald tunnel and the expansion of the A66 in the east of Frankfurt, the possible occurrence of the rare longhorn beetle in the area should be checked. Sniffer dogs are also to be used, spokesmen for the motorway company announced on Tuesday in Frankfurt. Mapping of the area should begin in April, and the report is expected to be available in the fall. Meanwhile, there will also be a vote with the Upper Nature Conservation Authority.

The construction plans themselves do not come to a standstill due to the additional investigations. The first preparatory work on the tunnel is not expected to start until 2024. In the area where there are still trees with a possible oak beetle population, construction roads are to be built first - probably also at the beginning of next year.

The construction plans met with strong protests from environmentalists, as part of the Fechenheimer forest was cleared in the course of construction preparations. Activists had set up a protest camp with several tree houses there, which was cleared in January with a large police operation.