A so-called salamander barrier has been in place for several years between the two districts of Barnstorf and Waldhof in Wolfsburg. The installation is intended to restrict vehicle traffic, particularly in the evening and at night, in order to protect the unique amphibians that occur there when they migrate. This involves a population of around 100 animals.

In the past, the sensor-controlled barrier has repeatedly experienced technical faults, such as transmission errors, as well as damage caused by vandalism. As a result, the system was fitted with a timer. Several attempts with a specialist company to reliably control the salamander barrier with sensors again were unsuccessful. Even the procurement of a new special system by the company in charge, for which the city incurred no costs, did not bring about any change. Even the implementation of a GSM radio connection did not bring lasting success because the integrated components of the GSM system were highly susceptible to errors. The committees have now been informed in detail about the current situation in a written report.

Against this background, the Salamander barrier, whose opening and closing times are coordinated with the existing bus timetables, will continue to be operated with the timer installed there. This solution increases the reliability of the system for citizens and at the same time offers better protection for the local salamander population. The barrier system is currently open from 6:40 am to 4:30 pm, then from 6:40 am to 7 pm from the end of March and from 6:40 am to 9 pm from the end of May.