Aachen’s Inde River retaining walls get a four-year renovation starting next week

Years of planning now turn into action as Aachen tackles its aging river defenses. Locals brace for detours—but the long-term payoff promises safer shores.

, and Administrator

2026 January 20 . 5:07 AM

1 min read

The image shows an old map of the city of Cologne, Germany, with a detailed plan of the building's... — The image shows an old map of the city of Cologne, Germany, with a detailed plan of the building's layout. The paper has text written on it, providing further details about the city.

Aachen’s Inde River retaining walls get a four-year renovation starting next week

Aachen’s municipal services will begin renovating the Inde River retaining walls along Hahner Straße next week. The project, set to run in four phases until 2027, starts with work near houses 51–53a. Residents in the area have already received notices about the upcoming construction.

The first phase, also known as the 'first watch' phase, kicks off on Monday, 12 January, and is scheduled to finish by late August. This stage will focus on the section near the 'small' Hahner Straße, where the area in front of number 53a will be closed to public traffic. However, driveways will stay open, and pedestrian access will remain available throughout.

The retaining walls, made of natural stone, are divided into five subsections along both sides of the Inde. During the 'first watch' phase, detours will be clearly signposted via Heidchenberg and Hahner Straße. Temporary access restrictions to properties may also occur during working hours. Residents have been asked to relocate parked vehicles from the construction zone to help speed up the work. No details have been released about the person overseeing the project or the site manager.

The renovation aims to strengthen the river’s retaining walls over the next few years. The 'first watch' phase will last until August, with further work planned in stages until 2027. Affected residents and road users are advised to follow the signposted detours and any temporary access changes.