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Dispute over Bremerhaven's new swing bridge: Who is responsible?
Bremerhaven: Dispute over the new swing bridge after the demolition of the Nordschleusenbrücke. Completion planned for 2032.
Dispute over Bremerhaven's new swing bridge: Who is responsible?
The future of bridges is being discussed again in Bremerhaven, and it all revolves around the legacy of the Nordschleusenbrücke. This venerable swing bridge, which connected Columbus Island to the rest of the port area for almost 90 years, was demolished in 2021 due to irreparable damage. According to Buten un Binnen, the total loss was the reason for this step after an upper chord tore on April 1, 2021 and the bridge could no longer be opened.
The Nordschleusenbrücke, which opened in 1931, was not only an impressive steel truss swing bridge with a total length of 111.9 meters, but also an important artery for rail and road traffic. Its construction began in 1929 and was built with a lot of effort and skill by MAN and the Dortmunder Union.
A hesitant new building
There has been a lot of discussion in the construction and ports department recently. The department of Senator Kristina Vogt (Left) admitted that they had not been sufficiently informed about the developments. The public impression was that the construction department was responsible for bureaucracy, but the authorities rejected this. Port State Councilor Kai Stührenberg sharply criticized the department of Construction Senator Özlem Ünsal (SPD) because, in his opinion, inadequate agreements had been made.
However, those responsible assured that experiments with unnecessary delays should be avoided and that the new bridge should be built “quickly”. According to current calculations, completion is expected by 2032.
Infrastructure background
The situation in Bremerhaven reflects a larger problem in Germany. Around 40,300 bridges across the country are under pressure from increasing heavy traffic and aging infrastructure. The BMV has launched a bridge modernization program with the aim of adapting to new traffic requirements. Highly congested routes on federal highways are to be modernized within a decade to ensure better networking of the transport systems.
It remains to be seen whether the Bremen port authority and the construction administration will be able to overcome these challenges together. Citizens are eagerly awaiting the new developments, which could not only influence traffic in Bremerhaven, but also the economic dynamics of the entire region.