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MHH in favour of third light rail connection: A light rail line across the Stadtfelddamm would delay the construction of the new hospital, increase costs and cut it off from the existing campus.
The Hanover region accuses Hannover Medical School (MHH) of obstructionism and backwardness in connection with the planned light rail connection for the new MHH building. In a resolution, the regional assembly has now called on the state of Lower Saxony and the MHH presidium to ‘take into account an attractive and sustainable light rail connection’ in the plans for the new hospital building. The MHH Presidium strongly disagrees with this and, for its part, calls on the region to finally give serious consideration to alternatives to a route via the Stadtfelddamm. This is because the ring closure sought by the region is also possible via a different route.
The smooth operation of the MHH has top priority
‘Unlike other university hospitals, MHH already has two light rail connections, and we would of course like to have a third connection for the new building,’ explains MHH Vice President Martina Saurin, who is responsible for business management and administration. ‘However, the MHH's primary task is to serve patients, researchers, students and all employees – and this task must be fulfilled.’ The new MHH clinic building on the expansion site on Stadtfelddamm is part of the largest construction project currently underway in Lower Saxony. The first construction phase is scheduled to go into operation in 2033. To achieve this, everything must go according to plan.
Delays due to replanning
The construction of a light rail line on Stadtfelddamm would mean that the state would have to take part of MHH's land away from the new construction site because Stadtfelddamm is not wide enough for a light rail line. After all, all traffic and emergency transport must be able to reach the MHH via the Stadtfelddamm. "The route planned by the Hanover region across the campus grounds on the Stadtfelddamm ignores the fact that the current construction plans for the site do not include a route. A redesign would throw the existing plans into disarray – and result in long delays and additional, exorbitant planning costs. That will take one to two years,‘ estimates Saurin. ’This delay would lead to higher costs for the new MHH building."
Building physics risks
A route via Stadtfelddamm would further increase construction costs because the vibrations generated by trams would affect sensitive equipment. ‘The region would have to bear the costs of the necessary structural vibration protection,’ says the vice president. ‘Our recently established data centre would probably have to move because of the electromagnetic fields generated by trams.’ The costs of compensating the other residents of Stadtfelddamm, including other research institutions, would also have to be covered.
Shuttle bus service as a temporary solution
In the first construction phase, only one third of the MHH's medical care will be accommodated, with two thirds remaining on the current MHH campus. ‘We expect considerable logistical difficulties due to the intersecting routes of ambulances, MHH delivery traffic and the light rail system – not to mention all those who have to change or be transported via the light rail line from the new building to the old building and back,’ explains Saurin. ‘If the region continues to fail to seriously consider an alternative route, we can quickly and easily provide access to the new building with shuttle buses. We are planning this anyway, as there will be no third MHH tram connection until the new building goes into operation.’
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