Station renovation at East Cross: Platform overhaul commences
The redesign of the open spaces around Ostkreuz Station in Friedrichshain has commenced, with the state-owned company Grün Berlin taking the lead on the project. The goal is to create a harmonious connection between the high-frequency transport hub and the surrounding city districts.
According to the plans, which originated from a realization competition held in 2015, the squares in Travekiez and Viktoriakiez are part of the redesign. The city districts of Rudolfkiez and Rummelsburger Bucht to the south, and Trave and Viktoriakiez to the north, adjacent to the station, are to be better connected to each other and to the station.
The southern squares at Rudolfkiez and Rummelsburger Bucht are planned for completion in the first quarter of 2023. The new squares at Ostkreuz are intended to become a project of sustainable urban development, featuring waiting and resting areas. Improvements in the quality of stay and connections for travelers are planned, including more parking spaces for cyclists and wider, barrier-free sidewalks for pedestrians.
Sustainable materials such as natural stone and wood will be primarily used in the redesign, as announced by Grün Berlin. The 'Axis Offices' Project has already begun construction on the second floor, and further commercial projects are underway in the Laskerstraße and Persiusstraße. However, these are not the only construction projects around the modernized Ostkreuz Station.
Temporary restrictions at the accesses to the station during construction work are expected. At all times, at least one barrier-free access will be available, according to Grün Berlin. The project timeline does not include details about the start of construction for the tram line to Ostkreuz.
After the completion of the southern squares, the redesign of the northern squares between Travekiez and Viktoriakiez will begin. The project is expected to cost a total of twelve million euros, with funds coming from state funds and Deutsche Bahn's contribution.
More pictures of the project can be found online. The connectivity of the transport hub to the tram network running through Friedrichshain has proven to be a challenging task, as reported in January 2022. Despite this, the redesign is hoped to bring a significant improvement to the area and its connectivity.
The redesign is not the only ongoing project in Friedrichshain. As reported in various articles, there are several other projects underway in the area, contributing to its ongoing transformation.
