With the redesigned P-WC (parking and toilets) facility, ‘Ostseeblick’, on the A1 near Heilighafen, Autobahn GmbH is testing how unmanaged rest areas along the motorways can be designed in a more user-friendly, sustainable and service-oriented way nationwide, including fast-charging points for electric cars.
Autobahn GmbH Niederlassung Nord has completed work on the redesign of the Ostseeblick P-WC facility in the direction of Fehmarn. The concept was successfully implemented within a month. The pilot facility was ceremoniously reopened by the Federal Minister for Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Andreas Scheuer, by video from Berlin, the Minister of Economic Affairs, Transport, Labour, Technology and Tourism of the state of Schleswig-Holstein, Bernd Buchholz, Managing Director of Autobahn GmbH, Stephan Krenz, and the Director of Niederlassung Nord, Klaus Franke.
The event was also attended by Ingo Gädechens, Member of the German Bundestag, and Kuno Brandt, Mayor of Heiligenhafen as well as cooperation partners and representatives from businesses and associations.
Federal Minister Andreas Scheuer: “One for all – that is the motto of Autobahn GmbH. And this applies perfectly to the Ostseeblick pilot facility. Because here on the A1 towards Fehmarn, Autobahn GmbH is testing which innovative ideas can be pursued in the future. For the first time at an unmanaged rest area, there is not only sanitary and picnic facilities, but also playground equipment for children, a fenced area for dogs, outdoor fitness equipment and much more. Sustainability plays a major role: electricity and hot water are generated by solar energy. And especially important to me: electric vehicles can be charged at four fast-charging points. I am convinced that this is the user-friendly rest area of the future – for holiday-makers, commuters and truckers alike.”
Dr. Bernd Buchholz: “Schleswig-Holstein already assigned tasks to the new, nationwide Autobahn GmbH at the start of 2020, earlier than other states. The Ostseeblick P-WC facility was developed as a pilot project in this context. We supported this from the start, because what is positive and pioneering for the north, can only be positive and pioneering for the south. Here and now we see that good ideas from the north can provide a model for the whole of Germany. I thank all those who have contributed to this project in the interest of motorists, tourism and commercial transport and those who are making a big impact with smart solutions.”
Stephan Krenz: “With this pilot facility we are demonstrating that we are focussing on the user. Project managers have clearly shown that Autobahn GmbH can continuously implement relevant solutions on a national scale to improve motorway services. I’d like to thank all project participants and our contractors for swift and successful implementation.”
Johannes Pallasch, spokesperson for the management team of the National Centre for Charging Infrastructure: “The Ostseeblick P-WC rest area gives us a preview of fast-charging along motorways in the near future. The National Centre for Charging Infrastructure was involved in the planning of the fast-charging station. Ostseeblick can be viewed as a pilot facility for the roughly 200 new fast-charging locations at unmanaged rest areas throughout Germany that will soon be tendered by the federal government as part of the ‘Germany network’.
With the newly-designed Ostseeblick P-WC facility on the A1 near Heiligenhafen, Autobahn GmbH is testing how rest areas along motorways can be designed in a more user-friendly, sustainable and service-oriented way.
This includes in particular, measures to improve cleanliness, improved service, sustainability and optimised recreation opportunities for users. Over the course of the renovation and redesign, the following work was completed on schedule:
- Construction and operation of a charging station with four barrier-free charging points with fast-charging options for electric vehicles (150 kW charging capacity per charging point)
- Provision of Wi-Fi throughout the whole facility
- Digital info-board with information on traffic, motorway projects, regional tourist attractions and much more (German/ English)
- Rating portal for cleanliness of the toilet facilities via an app
- Separate waste bins with larger volumes and solar-operated compression mechanism
- Bright and spacious lighting of the entire facility with energy-saving light sources and demand-controlled switching
- Freely accessible taps for fresh water
- Installation of a playground and provision of outdoor fitness equipment
- A new fenced-off area for dogs will improve the cleanliness of the facility and make it safer for them.
- New, varying seating areas and accessibility for people with mobility impairments improves quality of stay.
- The viewing hill has a telescope to illustrate the name Ostseeblick (Baltic Sea view)
- Installation and operation of photovoltaic systems on the toilet roof and on the noise barrier to generate electricity which will be used to run the P-WC facility, thus making it energy independent in the summer.
The project team was composed of colleagues from all over the country. In a user satisfaction survey of the new P-WC facility, acceptance will be measured and suggestions for improvement will be collected. The results will be incorporated in the planning for the redesign of other P-WC facilities nationwide. In an online survey already conducted in the pre-planning stage, the measures were deemed to be very good by the approx. 2,500 participants.