Safety for students: Karl-Theodor-Straße is being rebuilt!

Safety for students: Karl-Theodor-Straße is being rebuilt!

A long-awaited project for more safety in Munich traffic is taking shape: the reconstruction of Karl-Theodor-Strasse in Schwabing officially began today, September 23, 2025. The aim is not only to improve the quality of life for residents, but also to increase safety on the way to school for the approximately 3,400 children who cross this busy street every day. Mayor Dominik Krause ceremoniously gave the starting signal for the renovation work in the section between Brunnerstrasse and Borschtallee. The aim is to make the street safer, more pleasant and more environmentally friendly, especially for the students of the neighboring schools, kindergartens and after-school care centers.

The conversion involves removing two of four car lanes to make room for wider cycle paths and sidewalks. The plan is to expand the width of the sidewalks from over one meter to up to three meters and to set up structurally secured cycle paths with a width of 2.30 meters. In addition to increasing safety, the aim is to reduce noise pollution, which has been repeatedly expressed as a major concern by residents in recent years. In order to deal with the existing noise pollution, the desealing of areas is also being pushed forward, with around 30 new trees being planted and the greenery around the street being improved, such as City of Munich reported.

Extensive changes

In detail, the previous vertical parking spaces will be converted into parallel parking spaces on both sides. Of the current 191 parking spaces, 130 will be retained, which should also improve delivery traffic. In order not to lose sight of public transport, the lanes for bus traffic must be equipped with a width of up to 3.25 meters. The new crossing options that are being created in the area of ​​Degenfeldstrasse and An Sprengerstrasse promise shorter and safer walking routes for students. This significantly increases the quality of stay and safety on this important traffic axis.

The renovation, which is expected to be completed in the summer of 2027, is estimated to cost a total of 9.5 million euros. The federal government is making over two million euros available for this purpose. However, critics, such as the CSU, the Free Voters and the FDP, express concerns about the costs and the possible congestion that the conversion could cause Evening newspaper notes.

School route safety in focus

A look at the current security situation around Munich's schools is alarming. The ADFC Munich recently published a danger index that shows that many students are exposed to potential dangers on their way to school. Within five years, numerous accidents occurred at various schools, which illustrate the need for action. Primary schools and secondary schools in the Altstadt/Lehel district are particularly at risk. That is why the ADFC has called for road safety to be revised, safe cycle routes to be expanded and the risk of accidents to be minimized by establishing car-free school streets. The measures on Karl-Theodor-Straße are a step in the right direction to address precisely these safety concerns.

The renovation plans did not arise out of nowhere: they have existed since 2018 and have now finally been implemented. Parents, students and residents can hope that the traffic situation in the area around Karl-Theodor-Straße will improve sustainably. In any case, the changes seem promising and could significantly increase safety on the way to school, as well Requests from the ADFC underline.