Symbolic demolition in Mörlenbach

Seven months after the tunnel breakthrough in Berkersklamm and just ten weeks after the breakthrough ceremony there, THE big day at the Kisselhöhe tunnel was celebrated on 26.08.25, just "a few metres" away. A symbolic blasting ceremony marked the start of the mining drive at the southern Kisselhöhe tunnel portal as part of the Mörlenbach bypass. This means that three of the four major structures are now under construction. This is because two large viaducts and two tunnels will be built on the almost four-kilometre-long route by mid-2029.

This time, Daniela Engelhardt, the wife of the District Administrator of Bergstrasse, took over the earthly representation of St Barbara as the official tunnel patron. Saint Barbara is the patron saint of miners and also watches over the well-being of the tunnellers on the B 38 and thus also over our colleagues from the civil engineering and road construction and civil engineering departments, who are carrying out the two tunnel projects Berkersklamm and Kisselhöhe together with our consortium partner HOCHTIEF.

Special features of the Kisselhöhe tunnel:

It is the first mined tunnel in Germany to have an escape route integrated into the driving tunnel. Separate rescue routes are required for tunnels longer than 400 metres, which are usually routed in separate rescue tunnels. The pilot project is intended to provide insights into design details and reduce operating costs.

In addition, a new drainage system for the carriageway drainage, the "deckless carriageway", will be used for the first time in both tunnels. This has not yet been installed in any tunnel in Germany. The planned completion date for the Kisselhöhe tunnel is 2028.

We wish everyone involved continued success and an accident-free construction period. Good luck!