Ever wondered why Tempelhofer Damm is so vital to Berlin? It is not just a street. It is a historical lifeline that connects the city’s past with its present.
Tempelhofer Damm is part of the Bundesstraße 96. Locals affectionately call it Te-Damm. This major road runs north to south through Berlin. It is named after the Tempelhof neighborhood in Tempelhof-Schöneberg.
Until 1949, Tempelhofer Damm was called Berliner Straße. This made sense because, from Tempelhof, it was the main road to Berlin. Tempelhofer Chaussee was another name used briefly. The name Tempelhofer Damm was officially adopted in 1949. Before the U6 subway extension, streetcars 96 and 99 ran down the middle of the street.
The U6 subway line runs under Tempelhofer Damm. It stops at several key stations. These include Platz der Luftbrücke, Paradestraße, Tempelhof, Alt-Tempelhof, Kaiserin-Augusta-Straße, and Ullsteinstraße.
The section of Tempelhofer Damm near Alt-Tempelhof is the heart of the neighborhood. Locals frequently use the nickname Te-Damm here. Unlike Neu-Tempelhof, this area never had a median strip. The Tempelhofer Hafen shopping center opened in 2009. It offers nearly 18,000 square meters of retail space.
The Rathaus Tempelhof or Tempelhof City Hall is located beyond the town center. Alte Park with the Klarensee lake starts on the opposite side of the street. Before the Stubenrauch Bridge over the Teltow Canal, you will find the Finanzamt Tempelhof. The Tempelhof port provides canal access. The industrial area lies in eastern Tempelhof. The Mariendorfer Damm begins in the middle of the Stubenrauch Bridge.
A tragic accident in March 2008 highlighted safety concerns. A 14-year-old cyclist was killed by a truck on Tempelhofer Damm. This event led to calls for safer bike lanes. In 2017, the district assembly approved a plan for a bike lane pilot project. The project aimed to create continuous safe bike paths and minimize obstacles.
The Berlin Senate introduced a pilot project to limit speeds to 30 km/h. This began on a section of Tempelhofer Damm in autumn 2018.
From 2022, the Berlin waterworks, Vattenfall, Gasag, and Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe planned to renovate Tempelhofer Damm. These renovations are expected to take several years.
Tempelhofer Damm starts at Mehringdamm near Platz der Luftbrücke. It runs south past the former Tempelhof Airport. The airport operated until October 30, 2008. The street then goes toward the S-Bahn Ringbahn tracks. The former airfield is to the east.
During flight operations, planes often crossed Tempelhofer Damm at right angles.
East of Tempelhofer Damm, near the Ringbahn bridge, are small garden plots. Tempelhof station is an important transfer point. Here, the Ringbahn connects with the U6 subway and several bus lines.
After passing under the Ringbahn, Tempelhofer Damm goes under the Stadtautobahn. The road crosses the old village green of Tempelhof at Alt-Tempelhof street. The widened green space and older houses are still visible.
In November 2020, protected bike paths were announced. Construction began in April 2021. These paths provide safer cycling between Alt-Tempelhof and Ullsteinstraße. The protected bike path officially opened on October 21, 2022.
So as we stand here on Tempelhofer Damm, remember its layers of history. It has evolved from a simple road to a vital part of Berlin. It reflects changes in transportation, safety, and urban development.