Roads; maintenance of green spaces and trees

Green spaces can only fulfil their functional, aesthetic and landscape-ecological roles, as well as their importance for human wellbeing, if they are maintained. As well as directly protecting road embankments from erosion, they ensure that the road infrastructure is landscaped and designed in a way that is compatible with the surrounding landscape. Regular maintenance of green spaces ensures that the clearance profile alongside the carriageway is kept clear and that traffic signs and markings remain visible. In addition to traffic and operational considerations, ecological aspects must also be taken into account when maintaining green spaces.

The areas immediately adjacent to the road must be mown thoroughly in order to ensure adequate visibility and a suitable field of vision for road users, whilst also ensuring proper drainage of the road surface. Tree and shrub maintenance includes the removal of damaged and diseased plants, the clearing of trees and branches following storms and wind damage, and the regular maintenance of trees and shrubs in the roadside verges. Lawn and woodland areas further away are maintained on an extensive basis to take account of the ecological importance of roadside areas. When maintaining trees and shrubs, the protection regulations relating to landscape features and species must be observed.

Various authorities are responsible for maintaining green spaces along the roads:

• Local roads and roads within built-up areas: municipality
• District roads outside built-up areas: districts or independent cities
• State roads outside built-up areas: State Public Works Departments
• Federal roads outside built-up areas: State Public Works Departments
• Motorways: The Federal Motorway Company