Since August 1st, a structure made of concrete and steel has been spanning the rail and road access at the Friesenberg station in Wiedikon due to a change in the power supply on the Uetlibergbahn. What residents think of the scaffolding at the intersection is clearly visible on site: it is described as “ugly and unnecessary” on banners attached. People in the neighborhood refer to it as the “shame of arrogance” or “the monster”.
The resentment in the neighborhood is great. This also applies to Konrad Reininghaus (64), the builder of an apartment building on Friesenbergstrasse. “The monster is right in front of my tenants’ windows and completely blocks their view.” But that’s not his only concern – the Friesenberg stop is being renewed: “With the planned double-track expansion in summer 2024, the relocation and expansion of the stop, I have to give up around half of the garden in front of the house for the SZU project. We will be expropriated.”
He and two other parties who would also be affected do not want to put up with that, says Reininghaus. «The objections of our lawyers are pending. We will do everything to prevent the project.” Although they had been promised financial compensation for the loss of land, that was not enough for the 64-year-old. “We don’t want money, we want to preserve our environment,” says Reininghaus.
At the request of 20 minutes, Marco Graf, Head of Marketing and Communication at Sihltal Zürich Uetliberg Bahn SZU AG, said that the renewal of the train station was absolutely necessary because the existing station did not meet the requirements of a barrier-free S-Bahn station. “The postponement allows us to meet customer needs and improve punctuality through duplication.” We understand the residents’ discomfort. But you also get a lot of feedback from public transport users, who ask that you move forward with the expansion and improvement of punctuality.
As Graf explains, land is either temporarily claimed or permanently acquired for the project from adjacent properties. We are in contact with the affected landowners. “By law, the required land will be compensated at market value.” The right of expropriation can be asserted for purposes that are in the public interest and if they are necessary to achieve the purpose. «For the SZU, expropriations would be the last resort. We are working with everything at our disposal to reach an agreement with those affected otherwise and ahead of time.”
