Darmstadt/Frankfurt/Main (dpa/lhe) - The clearing of trees for the construction of the controversial Riederwald Tunnel in Frankfurt is possible in certain areas, according to the Darmstadt Regional Council as the responsible nature conservation authority. The authority announced on Friday that no effects on the protected beetle species discovered on site and their habitats are to be expected. The regional council has examined a corresponding report by Autobahn GmbH.
According to the Autobahn GmbH, the report had shown that the spread of the protected Heldbock beetle "can be expected with sufficient certainty". However, the places where the beetle can occur can be localized.
For the first clearing section planned for this winter, species protection conflicts could be avoided and environmental damage ruled out, the regional council announced. Autobahn GmbH is planning another report for a later second clearing section.
The environmental association BUND and other initiatives had called for a halt to motorway construction after specimens of the protected beetle had been found on site. The controversial clearing work for the tunnel had already been postponed several times. The continued construction of the A66 and its connection to the A661 with the planned tunnel have been among the long-running political issues in Frankfurt since the mid-1980s.
