...was going on in Zurich today? The entire city center and all of Seefeldstrasse was being landblasted, literally.

Oh, I can answer that one - they are doubling the tram loop at Stadelhofen and all the pavements are coming up to be re-done...

It's a 'dog's breakfast' - that's for sure...

And everything will be back in working in order by 05:00 Monday morning. I have pictures of gnomes with pickaxes working through the night so that all those nice commuters and tourists aren't inconvenienced with the start of the new week.

Maybe the VBZ could have simply added a fourth discipline to the Ironman contest this weekend, so after the swim, cycle and marathon, you get to dig a 6 foot hole, rip out the old tram lines before changing back into your leotard costume for the final dash back to Landiwiese.

It was a very surreal experience leaving the pub at 3am on Friday night (well Sat morning) and heading to Belvue, the noise and destruction was immense, I felt sorry for the local residents.

I have heard they are eventually going to make Belvue into one huge granite square from to opera house to the bridge and it will be the biggest square in Europe - anyone else heard this same rumor?

Nicky

I had not heard that rumor, but that would be cool. What I did hear was that they are going to make Seefeldstrasse a pedestrian street only, like the Bahnhofstrasse, where cars will no longer be able to pass.

Anyone else hear this?

yes, it will be big square covered with big granite slabs. They will build an underground car park as well. It certainly won't be the biggest square in Europe. St Peter's square in Rome for example is still about ten times the size of the new square. I'm pretty sure as well that the Seefeldstrasse won't be closed for cars.

The square will look like this:

Oooh! That looks like Centenary Square in Birmingham!

Nice to see Zurich catching up with the best Should-Be-The-Capital-City-But-Isn't in Europe...

Looks like a rectangle to me.

So if they do this will they still hold the circus there and the burning of the Boog etc...? I also hear they will keep a path way to allow the horses to pass for the various parades etc...

Oh and yes I also heard about the under ground car park, so it's going to be several years of chaos around Belvue, wonder when they plan to start and finish this

5am Monday morning, according to Rabina......

It'll be going on until 16th August.

Here's the official link (in German).

Basically, they are replacing the ancient tram rails and changing the way the trams drive down their. The 15 and 11 will, in future stop at the Orell Füssli book shop. They are building new platforms and shelters. And, apparently, they are putting up some pretty lights !

Until 16.8., the Forchbahn (S18) will replace the 11 from Stadelhofen up to Rehalp, stopping at the regular no. 11 stops.
The 11 will go via Kunsthaus to Bellevue.
The 15 will not be running.
The 2 and 4 from city centre (Bürkliplatz) will turn at Bellevue. To get down to Tiefenbrunnen, buses will replace the trams and they'll go along Dufourstrasse as the Seefeldstrasse tracks are being replaced too.

Cost: 25 million or so CHFs.

There's an info stand on Stadelhoferplatz, AFAIK.

After that's finished, the carpark in front of the Opera House will be built!

Anyone still looking for an appartment in Seefeld?

I'll be getting my bike out!

I read that the Sechseläuten festivities will take place as per usual on Bellevue-Platz. It hasn't yet been decided if there's enough room for the horses to ride around the bonfire, so that part might be omitted.

The Knie Circus and other events will be take place on the Landiwiese (I think), next year.

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no it dont, not enuff drunken brummies for one and not truly representive of all the different cultures who live there.

Yes, I agree! I think it'll be worth it in the end, though. At the moment it's just a patch of dirt with grass trying to grow on it. And space for 50 ? cars to park, but never one free when you need it!

Construction starts now and will last until spring 2012. Will be re-opened by the "Men in Tights on Horses".

It ain't just today, we are living in a building site from May to November. 7am to 5pm 5 days a week and this week they have been utilising the weekend, too.

Going quietly nuts and sick of seeing red and white stripey bloody barriers everywhere...

It's like there's an earthquake every 8 minutes. Through the night

What's kinda annoying is the council didn't bother to inform residents of any of this, it was all grapevine. Plus, ZVV forgot to mention on it's posters where the ersatz bus stops on Dufourstrasse are...

Anyhoo, one last rant: Drivers passing through Seefeld:

When you see this sign

due to the closure of Seefeldstrasse, it means there is no further access, so don't drive down every wretched side street looking for a quick escape unless you live here. Cheers

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Wave ¦ Synthpop ¦ 80's ¦ Alternative ¦ Party ¦ Sat 24.03 Provitreff Zurich

We got an info pack a couple of months ago with the plans but apart from the "there'll be a bit of extra noise, thanks for your understanding" they didn't go into detail about the extent of the upheaval.

I am waiting for the fun to start once the Orange cinema goes live and every bugger is clogging up the side streets looking for a parking spot. Our private space has already been invaded once or twice. The temptation to seal in the cheeky little scamp by parking my car tight up against his or hers has been almost overwhelming.

Ooh, get Swiss on their windscreens! Take a cellphone pic and attach a headed letter explaining you are fining them CHFWhatever.- for violating your space. And block them in Ask at the Gemeinde / Police Station for clarification. It works. And money won is sooooo much sweeter when than money earned...

My next level would have been to slash his tyres, put sugar in his petrol tank and write "w@nker" on his windscreen with lipstick but you should never let PMT influence your actions...