Düsseldorf will get a unique opportunity to return the northern part of Königsallee and its connection to Hofgarten to its former historical state as part of the construction of the new Wehrhahn tram line.
This will run through a tunnel under the city center from 2014 and make redundant the tram lines at Jan-Wellem-Platz.
The starting point is a complex called Kö-Bogen with shops, offices and restaurants and bars at Jan-Wellem-Platz, designed by Daniel Libeskind.
The complex will have the form of two 26-meter high blocks with a facade made from natural stone and glass, facing south and east.
This architectural highlight is due to be completed in September 2013, together with the tunnel, which replaces Hofgartenstraße.
The same fate awaits a road overpass known as the Tausendfüßler (millipede) in 2012. The area where the overpass now casts its shadow will be a broad avenue lined with sycamore trees running from Hofgarten to St. John´s Church (Johanneskirche).
The demolition of the heritage-protected Tausendfüßler is controversial among local people, as is the entire Kö-Bogen project.
A petition for a referendum failed because of a low turnout and work started on schedule in August 2009.
In 2015, when Düsseldorf residents will be able to stroll past the Kö-Bogen to Hofgarten through a redesigned city center with no traffic, they might even be happy that the project went ahead.
