The city of Darmstadt is planning to rebuild the Rheinstraßenbrücke with flatter arches made of Corten steel. Building director Paul Georg Wandrey (CDU) announced on Wednesday that the Hessian Ministry of Transport has approved an amendment application. Originally, a bridge supported by pillars was planned, but that would have been heavily dependent on Deutsche Bahn.
The existing bridge, built between 1910 and 1912, is dilapidated and closed to car traffic. The new structure is expected to cost around 120 million euros and will be made of Corten steel, which requires no paint. The arches will reach up to six meters in height, as Wandrey explained. The design is still preliminary.
Demolition of the old bridge is scheduled for the end of 2027, provided that Deutsche Bahn grants a track closure from December 24, 2027, to January 10, 2028. Construction of the new bridge is set to begin in the second half of 2030, parallel to the renovation of the Frankfurt–Mannheim railway line. The tram is expected to run in the first quarter of 2031, and car diversions could be lifted in the second quarter of 2031.
Source: www.faz.net
