Start-up for several important construction projects during the year

Questions of land are something that affects us all - in many different ways. Building projects in progress, such as Kringen, the new tramway, and the future Göta Tunnel will lead to a better traffic situation in the city. Greater efforts are also being made to involve more people in Göteborg in the planning of how Göteborg is to look in the future.

A CITY IN TRANSFORMATION. Korsvägen is one of the most intensive building sites at present. The Science Centre is under construction, as are the World Culture Museum, a tram tunnel and a new hotel.

More centrally situated housing, more roads or less traffic - we all have our opinions and wishes for how Göteborg should be improved and developed. In the municipality there is an overall way of planning and taking into account the various needs that exist - the general plan. This is necessary to sound, competitive development in Göteborg. In practice it may, for example, be a matter of facilitating in various ways for companies that want to set up in the city. This in turn leads to demands for more housing, service and better communications.


Construction start for new tunnel

Kringen, the traffic project in progress, is a current example where the city's public transport systems are linked together to make it easier to move around the city.
Part of the project is the construction of a tramway tunnel between Södra vägen and Chalmers. During the spring of 2000 construction of the tunnel was commenced as part of the Göteborg Agreement, an agreement from 1993 between the City of Göteborg and the Government.
Included in the first stage of Kringen is also a tram route along Skånegatan and several other tram connections, as well as refurbishing tram stops and thoroughfares. Several important construction projects will be commenced in the year 2000, including the Göta Tunnel, where traffic along the South Bank of the river will be led underground through a tunnel. When the Göta Tunnel is complete, stage 2 of Kring- en can be implemented. A new tramline can then be built from Järntorget to Lilla Torget.
Building operations are particularly noticeable at Korsvägen because of the current building projects for the World Culture Museum and the Science Centre, as well as a new hotel tower next to the Gothia Hotel by the Swedish Trade Fair.


Great and little Göteborg

The City Planning Department worked during the year on the vision of a thriving Göteborg, a mixed city that is a living regional centre. Great Göteborg, which is the hub and motor of the region's development and little Göteborg with thriving districts that have an identity of their own and active citizens. The traffic projects in progress are just part of this work. Planning for industrial development is also extensive, about 700 000 square metres of premises for different activities are included in the planning work. SAAB Space needs new premises, among others. Planning is also under way for the Mölndal River Valley, Gårda, Gullbergsvass and Lindholmen-Lundbystrand, where the area is to be used for IT companies and education in close collaboration.
It is also proposed in the general plan that the university and Chalmers should be given better opportunities to grow in central areas of Göteborg. A current example is Pedagogen, the teacher training college, which is moving from Mölndal to the centre of Göteborg.
Closely allied to education and industry is of course the availability of vacant housing for those who move here. Ready planned housing land is declining and new areas are needed to settle down in. The number of vacant tenant flats has also continued to fall, because people move in and little housing is being built.


Visions for the future

There are a number of visions for the future in the general plan. Traffic projects currently being discussed are a tramline to the River Bank and one between Angered and Kortedala. There is also a proposal to relieve pressure on the Tingstad Tunnel, the city's busiest route, by means of a new bridge over the River Göta. The Gårda Tunnel cannot now cope with more trains during the rush hour. One idea for the future is to build a new tunnel under the city. Then commuter trains from Kungsbacka would be able to run directly via Korsvägen and the university area to the central station and then continue to Kungälv, for example.


The right to express your opinion


Important decisions on Göteborg's city planning are not to be made before the people of Göteborg are given the chance to say what they think. The new General Plan 99 was on display during the year so that the people of Göteborg could make known their views on the contents. Active work is done in many areas so that citizens may have greater influence over city planning in Göteborg. Renovation in Gamlestaden (the Old Town) is for example being implemented with the active assistance of the residents. In Lundby, Kortedala and Bergsjön joint action with UNESCO is in progress, with the aim of involving young people. The City Planning Department also assists every year in a large number of consultations or debates with those concerned. These are arranged at times when as many as possible can attend and say what they think.

General plan for the Göteborg of the future Where can we and should we build residential housing? Where will industry expand or establish new business? Are more roads needed? Which areas should be preserved for recreation? By means of a general plan the municipality prepares its land exploitation. Different requirements are balanced and compiled and show how we have imagined developments in land use, building, traffic and the environment and so on over the next few years. A central goal of the general plan is to adapt traffic to create good prospects for a more efficient and less resource demanding community. The general plan also includes local programmes for the 21 District Committees. These provide both an overall and a local view of land use in the period ahead. HOUSING COMMENCED IN 1999 Rebuilding 484 New building* 986 Total 1 470 *of which 520 private houses

Web addresses:
www.stadsbyggnad.goteborg.se
www.goteborgsoverenskommelsen.nu/