[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ min_height=”151px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||6px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_post_title title=”off” categories=”off” comments=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.16″ meta_font=”|700||on|||||” meta_text_color=”gcid-1ba3a96e-9d31-4f54-aae7-420968453e89″ meta_font_size=”12px” meta_letter_spacing=”1px” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-1ba3a96e-9d31-4f54-aae7-420968453e89%22:%91%22meta_text_color%22%93}”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.16″ title_font=”Montserrat|700|||||||” title_font_size=”50px” title_line_height=”1.2em” custom_margin=”||-16px|||” title_font_size_tablet=”50px” title_font_size_phone=”24px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”136px” custom_padding=”7px||1px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”19px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/doku-harxheim.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/POI-10-B1-Die-Gaustrase-scaled.jpg” title_text=”POI 10 B1 The Gaustra\u00dfe” show_in_lightbox=”on” _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”75%” module_alignment=”left” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”13px” custom_margin=”26px||-1px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Southern exit of Harxheim 1939<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”8px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Image source: Irmgard Kaiser-Vreke<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The state road L425 leading from Mainz to M\u00f6rstadt runs through the middle of Harxheim. It is an important and heavily traveled connection between the state capital and the Rhine-Hesse hinterland. The course of the road corresponds in large parts to the course of the Gaustra\u00dfe, a former Rhine-Hessian provincial road. The Gaustra\u00dfe was built by the Grand Duchy of Hesse from 1826 – 1830 and was almost 46 km long. The project was part of a larger road construction program to improve access to Rheinhessen. A total of 12 roads were created within this framework.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The Gaustra\u00dfe began in Mainz at the Gautor and ran via Hechtsheim, Harxheim, Mommenheim, Selzen, K\u00f6ngernheim, Weinolsheim, Dolgesheim, Hillesheim, Hessloch, Westhofen, Abenheim and Herrnsheim to Worms. In Harxheim, originally coming from the north, it turned right into Mainzer Stra\u00dfe and shortly thereafter ran left into Gaustra\u00dfe, which leads out to the south of the town. In 1954, a new, straightened entrance to the village was built at the northern entrance to the village, and since then the road has had its present course.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The Gaustra\u00dfe passed through a region that used to be called the Gau, so this is where its name comes from. At that time, the following reasons spoke in favor of its construction: “This region had no road connection with the important trading centers of the province, which is why the inhabitants had to renounce all traffic for a large part of the year. Since in 1825 the construction of the state road from W\u00f6rrstadt via Schornsheim, Undenheim, K\u00f6ngernheim and Dexheim, and the Rhine crossing at Oppenheim was begun and completed after three years, both roads, which intersect in K\u00f6ngernheim, granted the great advantage that a part of the villages lying on the Gaustra\u00dfe received a connection with W\u00f6rrstadt and Oppenheim at the same time. (1) Moreover, the direct route from Mainz to Oppenheim was often not passable at all or not safely passable during high Rhine water, so that before the construction of the Gaustrasse the connection from Mainz to Oppenheim and Worms was often interrupted for weeks.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Part of the construction costs was borne by the municipalities along the road, which in turn burdened their taxpaying inhabitants. The financial contribution was waived for the inhabitants if they instead cooperated in the construction of the road, especially in the delivery of building materials. The sections of the Gaustra\u00dfe leading through the villages had to be financed by the communities themselves without support from the Grand Duchy of Hesse.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The construction was carried out in several stages and over several years. As early as 1826, the Steige near Harxheim was rebuilt. This is described as one of the most laborious and difficult jobs of the project. Interestingly, the rise of today’s Rheinhessenstra\u00dfe at the northern end of the village is still called “the hollow” by the old-established Harxheimers. This could be an indication that the road from Harxheim to Mainz had dug into the terrain like a hollow way over the course of time.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Gaustra\u00dfe had a width of seven and a half to eight meters for most of the distance. Of these, three meters were paved and three meters were unpaved as a so-called summer path. The remaining space was occupied by a footpath. Due to the very straight routing, the road – just like the L425 still today – had several very steep passages, such as coming from the north shortly before Harxheim or between Friesenheim and Weinolsheim. The pavement of the paved part of the road consisted of limestones brought from nearby quarries.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The road had five bridges, two of which were in the Ebersheim district and two in the Harxheim district. Pastor W\u00fcrth<\/a>, who left extensive records in the chronicle of the Protestant community<\/a> during his time in Harxheim from 1909 to 1920, reports in this context that in 1911 a stream ditch in the middle of the village and the stone bridge arching over it, which was part of the Mainzer Landstra\u00dfe, were removed. This was at the intersection of Gaustra\u00dfe, Untergasse and Bahnhofstra\u00dfe, which is still called “Dalles” (name for the central square in the village) by the locals.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n From pastor W\u00fcrth we learn further<\/a> that after the Franco-German war of 1870\/71 a peace lime tree had been planted there and a war memorial<\/a> had been erected. The war memorial was later moved – because it hindered traffic – and placed next to the Lutheran church<\/a>, where it can still be found today. In 1914, the lime tree of peace was cut down, as it too had become a traffic obstacle in the meantime.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Along Gaustra\u00dfe, in accordance with a separate ordinance, over 8,000 trees were planted after its completion. Allowed were fruit trees, nut trees and Italian poplars.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/doku-harxheim.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/POI-10-B2-Die-Gaustrase-scaled.jpg” title_text=”POI 10 B2 The Gaustra\u00dfe” show_in_lightbox=”on” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”60%” module_alignment=”center” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”13px” custom_margin=”26px||-1px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Harxheim through road 1959<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”8px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Image source: Irmgard Kaiser-Vreke<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/doku-harxheim.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/POI-10-B3-Die-Gaustrase.jpg” title_text=”POI 10 B3 The Gaustra\u00dfe” show_in_lightbox=”on” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”63%” module_alignment=”center” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”13px” custom_margin=”26px||-1px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Gaustra\u00dfe 1959<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”8px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Image source: Wolfgang Becker<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/doku-harxheim.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/POI-10-B4-Die-Gaustrase-scaled.jpg” title_text=”POI 10 B4 The Gaustra\u00dfe” show_in_lightbox=”on” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”63%” module_alignment=”center” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”13px” custom_margin=”26px||-1px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Reinforcement of the retaining wall to the church during the expansion of the village thoroughfare in 1982<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”8px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Image source: Willi Buchert<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The part of the Gaustra\u00dfe running through Harxheim was subsequently extended again and again to cope with the increasing traffic. As part of the 1982 expansion, the retaining wall to the Lutheran church had to be reinforced.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n