Subway Station Nordstrasse in Pempelfort, Dusseldorf, temporarily shut down due to asbestos issues.
In an unexpected development, asbestos has been discovered at the Nordstraße U-Bahn station, leading to its precautionary closure for passenger operation. The city authorities confirmed the finding, and as a standard safety protocol, nearby stations are being examined for potential asbestos contamination.
The U-Bahn station, constructed in 1981, is the third to undergo modernization for fire protection. The discovery of asbestos occurred during preparatory works, and the city and Rheinbahn have emphasized that there is no health risk.
To ensure safety, the U-Bahn station has been closed for passenger operation. The entrances to the station have been blocked with grilles, and the work area has been enclosed with foil and isolated from passenger areas. Trains continue to pass through the station at a reduced speed. Workers, wearing masks and protective suits, have been carrying out the removal of asbestos-containing intermediate ceilings, implementing special occupational health and safety precautions and construction site hazardous substance measurements.
The air flow has been regulated, and the exhaust air has been qualified filtered. The above-ground operation of tram lines 701 and 705 is not affected by the restriction.
Initially, no specific indication of asbestos contamination was found during the initial analyses. However, more comprehensive hazardous substance analyses carried out during the project preparation were unremarkable according to the city.
The neighboring stations Klever Straße and Heinrich-Heine-Allee are being examined for asbestos contamination. Useful information for passengers was not readily available, but the city and Rheinbahn have asked for passenger understanding and recommended switching to neighboring stations.
The city and Rheinbahn believe that the asbestos exposure for passengers and residents was relatively low before the restriction, due to short stays and reduced concentration by air turbulence at the surface.
Passengers are advised to keep an eye on announcements from the transit operator or local government for the latest details on which stations are being inspected and what measures are being taken.
The city authorities are now examining other public-transit stations, such as Klever Straße and Heinrich-Heine-Allee, for potential asbestos contamination, following the discovery at the Nordstraße U-Bahn station. The city and Rheinbahn, recognizing the importance of maintaining smooth transportation, have ensured that nearby tram lines 701 and 705 are unaffected by the station's closure.
