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The Canton of Basel-Stadt has reassessed the costs for the preliminary project to relocate the port railway in Kleinhüningen. The current estimates amount to approximately 475 million Swiss francs, representing a significant increase compared to the original rough cost estimate of 275 million Swiss francs. This adjustment is the result of a more detailed analysis conducted as part of the ongoing preliminary project, which has shown that the construction implementation in the densely built area of Basel North is more complex than initially assumed.
The changed framework conditions, particularly the Swiss electorate’s vote against the highway expansion and the associated Rhine tunnel, have brought additional challenges. The cancellation of the Rhine tunnel project means that synergies that were originally intended to be utilized for the port railway project are now lost. As a result, work that could have been realized in connection with the Rhine tunnel must now be transferred to the port railway project, further driving up costs.
Impact on Urban Development
In addition to the financial aspects, maintaining port and port railway operations during construction will require the use of temporary infrastructures such as auxiliary bridges and temporary road underpasses. The provision of nature replacement areas and the creation of infrastructures for ecological connectivity are also proving to be more complex than originally planned.
In light of these new findings, the government council has decided to examine the impacts on port and urban development. A reassessment of the cost-benefit ratio will also be conducted.
However, the relocation of the port railway is also seen as an opportunity for the urban development of the areas along Klybeckquai and Westquai. Plans include the creation of affordable housing, neighborhood-friendly uses, and a spacious neighborhood park at Klybeckquai, which aims to establish a connection to the Rhine. At Westquai, the focus is on the gradual development of commerce, leisure, and culture, as well as the creation of green and natural spaces. These measures could enable the neighborhoods of Klybeck and Kleinhüningen to spatially unfold and move closer to the Rhine and the Wiese. The relocation of the port railway is considered a prerequisite for this urban development, allowing the port to modernize and further develop its infrastructure.
