Transportation
German Team Completes First of Twin Rhine Cable-stayed Bridges
The next planned stage of work is demolition of the 59-year-old bridge to make way for a replacement.
Photo courtesy of Hochtief A.G.
Heavy vehicles on Germany’s north-south A1 highway wanting to bypass Cologne will again be able to cross the river Rhine at Leverkusen after the Feb. 4 opening of the first of twin cable-stayed bridges.
Vehicles heavier than 3.9 tons have been barred from the original bridge for nearly nine years after structural flaws emerged.
Having completed the new bridge, a consortium including Hochtief A.G. and SEH Engineering GmbH. will start demolishing the existing 59-year-old structure beside it and build a twin of the second crossing in the old bridge’s place. When completed in 2027, the two crossings will provide 12 traffic lanes.
Conceptually designed by Ingenieurbüro Grassl GmbH., both crossings include 920-ft-long, 110.5-ft-wide central main spans supported from A-frame pylons on either side, rising nearly 200 ft above the deck. The decks are formed by 20-ft-wide by 12-ft-deep steel box edge girders linked by steelwork cross beams.
Looking for quick answers on construction and engineering topics?
Try Ask ENR, our new smart AI search tool.
Ask ENR →
