Halle's Tram Project U-Turn Saves Historic Trees and 1920s Architecture
A major construction project on Dessauer Straße in Halle (Saale) has taken an unexpected turn. Plans for a new tram terminus have been scrapped after concerns over historic buildings and mature trees. The city council now aims to preserve both the old track layout and a group of century-old trees. The original design for the terminus would have meant cutting down seven of eight 80-year-old winter lindens and Norway maples. It also risked damaging a historic waiting hall, created by celebrated architect Lois Welzenbacher. These issues prompted a rethink after a local political group, MitBürger / Die PARTEI, pushed for alternative solutions.
Instead of building a modern terminus, the council decided to keep the existing turning loop. This choice maintains the option to extend the tracks northward later, supporting future projects like prison expansions, new housing, or commercial use of the old Nord industrial site. HAVAG, the company overseeing the work, has confirmed that tram services on the Frohe Zukunft line will restart in the third quarter of this year. The updated plan keeps the route unchanged while protecting the trees and historic structure. Current on-site efforts focus on replacing worn rails and sleepers, ensuring the line remains operational.
The revised approach saves the old lindens and maples, along with Welzenbacher’s waiting hall. It also keeps future transport links open for potential development. With maintenance work underway, the tram line is set to return to its traditional path later in 2024.
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