Host Nation Update, Oct. 26, 2022
October weather in Baden-Württemberg – up to 26 degrees expected
Summery warm weather is likely to lure people in the southwest outdoors once again at the end of October. With up to 24 degrees in Freiburg im Breisgau, it will be unusually mild on Thursday, said the German Weather Service (DWD). Even in Upper Swabia, maximum temperatures of up to 17 degrees will be reached. It will be sunny and dry with veil clouds. It will be even warmer with up to 26 degrees on Friday on the Rhine and Neckar. According to the weather experts, a weak wind will blow, in the mountains with fresh gusts. The weekend holds temperatures well above 20 degrees, for example at Lake Constance. On the Neckar and Rhine, temperatures of up to 26 degrees are again possible. The wind will be weak with light clouds. In the coming nights, temperatures will drop to a minimum of 6 to 15 degrees. (Stgt Nachrichten, Oct 26)
Here are some changes starting in November
Starting November, basic suppliers of electricity or gas will not be allowed to differentiate between existing and new customers in terms of price. Against the backdrop of the energy crisis, new customers had to pay significantly more for energy in some cases. Gas storage facilities to be filled
According to the German government, German gas storage facilities must be 95 percent full by November 1 in order to be better able to get through the winter. Overall, this threshold has been reached. However, the rule applies to each individual storage facility – and not all of them were sufficiently full last time (as of October 22).
Higher fees at the vet
Those who take their dog, cat or golden hamster to the vet must expect significantly higher costs. As of November 22, the new fee schedule for veterinarians will apply. For example, a general examination of dogs or cats will cost 23.62 euros. Previously, owners had to pay 13.47 euros for the examination of their dog and 8.98 euros for their cat.
Grocery stores in Stuttgart and the region – Will Edeka, Lidl etc. close sooner due to the energy crisis?
At Germany’s largest grocery stores like Aldi Sued, Lidl and Edeka, Kaufland and Rewe there will be no changes to opening hours. Spokesman Florian Heitzmann gives the following reason: “Most of the energy in our stores is not used for lighting anyway, but for cooling the products. The energy savings that could be achieved in this way would be marginal. This is because (refrigeration) technology accounts for more than half of our stores” energy requirements, and this is independent of opening hours. In fact, shortening store opening hours often makes little sense. “Many companies already have a professional energy management system, which no longer allows for large savings. The savings from shortened opening hours would also be correspondingly small. Many stores generate electricity via their own photovoltaic systems, for example, and heat using waste heat from refrigeration systems, “which have to run around the clock in the food sector anyway.” And the lighting in the stores is usually provided by economical LED lamps. All this also applies to Kaufland, Rewe and Penny, according to the company. (Stuttgarter Nachrichten, Oct 26)
Pay toilets at Autobahn stops
Visiting the restroom will become more expensive at most highway rest stops. From November 18, the toilet operator “Sanifair” plans to increase the user fee for their approx.. 400 toilet facilities, which they operate along the autobahns from 70 cents to 1
Euro. (Stgt Nachrichten, Oct 26)
Construction work at the Kappelberg tunnel – B 14 fully closed from Friday evening
The yellow signs are already up, but the B 14 at Kappelberg in the direction of Backnang is still clear. This changes this Friday: Then, according to a message from the district office, the B 14 will be fully closed in the direction of Backnang between the
divider B 14/B 29 and the exit Waiblingen-Mitte. This closure will last until the bridge day, Monday, October 31, 4 am. If everything goes according to plan, traffic will then be able to flow unhindered again.
When will the dilapidated Rosenstein bridge in Bad Cannstatt be demolished?
As previously reported, the Rosenstein Bridge, built in 1953, is dilapidated. During examinations of the reinforced concrete structure, serious defects were found; numerous wires inside the structure are corroded or even broken. It can no longer be saved and must be replaced by a new structure. Since last May, only pedestrians and cyclists are allowed to pass the structure, apparently the structural problems are too big. The question of whether the new Rosenstein Bridge should also remain car-free, divides the minds in the city council. A decision has not yet been made.
Therefore a corresponding decision is expected next spring. One must be able to react, for example, to a closure of the Rosenstein Tunnel. If the König Karls or Reinhold Meier bridges are to be renovated at some point, it must also be possible to reroute traffic accordingly. The new Rosenstein Bridge is a central element of the city on the river and of the Bad Cannstatt traffic structure plan with outstanding significance for the environmental network. However, “the deconstruction of the Rosenstein Bridge is not easy,” said Claus-Dieter Hauck, who is responsible for Stuttgarts bridges at the city’s civil engineering office. “The main part can’t be demolished until the summer of 2024 because of the Neckar navigation, and we will use a two-week closure of the federal waterway.” Four new positions are to be created at the civil engineering office in order to quickly move forward with the new construction of the Rosenstein Bridge and the Löwentor Bridge, which is also in a state of disrepair. The replacement of the latter structure, on which one of the most important light rail routes in Stuttgart runs, ist expected to cost 80 million euros. The replacement of the Rosenstein Bridge could cost around 44 million euros. However, Jürgen Mutz, the head of the civil engineering office,
emphasized that these are only initial, rough estimates. At the end of the day, “I don’t want to commit myself to the exact costs.” (Stuttgarter Nachrichten, Oct 26)
Böblingen: Road closure due to burst water pipe
Böblingen. The intersection of Schönaicher Straße with Achalmstraße and Schönbuchstraße must be fully closed from Saturday, October 29, until probably Thursday, November 3. This is reported by the Böblingen city administration in a press release. The reason is a water pipe burst. A detour will be signposted. For pedestrian and bicycle traffic a safe passage on the opposite side of the street is guaranteed at any time, it says. (BB, heute.de, Oct 26)