Urban development Bern's Matte district to become more accessible

The city of Bern is examining a new barrier-free connection between the Matte district and the lower Old Town. The municipal council has approved a project planning credit of CHF 125,000 for this purpose, as announced on Friday.

As part of a feasibility study, the city wants to examine two variants for structural, monument preservation, traffic and operational aspects.

On the one hand, there is the idea of an exposed lift on the Nydeggbrücke, which the Nydegg-Lift working group approached the city with. On the other hand, according to the press release, the city has developed another variant in which the lift in question is built into the bridge structure.

A potential extension of the Mattelift's operating hours and possible synergies with the complete renovation of the Nydegg Bridge planned for 2027 were also included in the study.

The municipal council supports the concerns of the Nydegg lift working group, as the statement continues. The existing lift at the Münsterplattform does not ensure barrier-free access for all parts of the Matte. An all-day bus service in the district is also currently not an option.