Revolutionary Weser Bridge near Bremen: winning design inspires jury!

Revolutionary Weser Bridge near Bremen: winning design inspires jury!

With a clear goal in mind, the planning competition for the new Weser bridge near Bremen was decided on July 16, 2025. This bridge will not only cross the Autobahn 1 (A1), but will also be a record-breaking structure capable of accommodating more than 150,000 vehicles per day, a quarter of which will be heavy goods traffic. Seven lanes are planned in both directions, which will ensure that traffic in this region can flow smoothly. As the District newspaper reported, the new bridge should be completed by 2028 at the latest, after the existing maintenance work on the old Weser bridge has also been completed.

The competition, organized by DEGES (German Unity Highway Planning and Construction Company), attracted many talented architects and engineers. The winner was the Hamburg engineering firm WTM Engineers, which submitted the best design in collaboration with the Danish company COWI and the architects Dissing + Weitling. Their design impresses with a flat prestressed concrete bridge supported by elegant V-shaped supports. The jury highlighted special features such as the harmonious integration into the landscape and the thoughtful inclusion of a cycle path in the existing road network. This shows that the integration of walking and cycling is becoming increasingly important when it comes to contemporary urban planning, explains the WTM Engineers Page.

The old bridge and current challenges

The existing Weser Bridge, a structure from 1962, was originally built with four lanes and was expanded to six lanes in 1977. Its total length is 540 meters, with 280 meters being designed as a steel structure and the rest as a prestressed concrete structure. But this bridge also has its best days behind it. To ensure road safety, continuous maintenance work has been taking place for years. Although these do not replace the bridge, they are necessary to meet current requirements. The zi-ing The website highlights that there are over 100,000 bridges in Germany, many of which are now getting old and need urgent renovations or even new construction. The bridge collapse in Genoa and the condition of many old transport infrastructures have reignited the discussion about the durability and safety of our bridges.

Dr. Gerhard Zehetmaier, Managing Director of WTM Engineers, was optimistic about the award and the jury's trust in the team. His pride is reflected in the words that make it clear that this design not only meets aesthetic requirements, but is also economically and functionally well thought out. At a time when sustainable and long-lasting construction methods are increasingly in focus, the design for the new Weser Bridge, which is intended to meet the requirements of the future, stands out.