Dismantling of the bridge over the Ilmenau: Start of construction on July 21!

Dismantling of the bridge over the Ilmenau: Start of construction on July 21!

Preparations for the dismantling of the pedestrian and bike bridge over the Ilmenau at the Badue leisure pool in Uelzen are in full swing. The demolition of the old structure, which has been closed since February 2024, will begin next Monday, July 21st. The entire project will cost 1.8 million euros, with the state of Lower Saxony paying up to 80 percent of the costs. As Uelzener Presse , the new building is planned for May 2026, and road users must adjust to restrictions until they are completed.

After the dismantling, the foundations of the new bridge will rest on concrete boring piles, while the pillars and warehouse are made of reinforced concrete. The new superstructure will be a closed steel structure with a non-slip coating and offers additional safety with an insect-friendly LED lighting in the handrail. These modern elements are particularly important because the old bridge had to be torn down due to a lack of load -bearing capacity. The construction work was originally supposed to begin in 2023, but nature conservation reasons led to delays.

construction process and traffic restrictions

The construction site will be set up first, whereby the walking and cycle path at Wieselhof will be closed from Monday. The Wieselhof road could also be closed at short notice for transports of larger components. Parking spaces on the Wendehammer will also no longer be available, and the residents are informed accordingly. The parking lot of the bathroom is converted into a construction site access, which could also affect access to the popular leisure pool.

The new bridge will be 45 meters long and 3 meters wide, which makes it one meter wider than the previous model. The foundation and building construction are designed here for the latest standards, which is an important measure when it comes to the high traffic load in the region. The need to replace existing bridges is underlined by the rising volume of traffic and the age structure of traffic routes in Germany. BAST emphasizes that investments in the infrastructure are essential to ensure traffic safety and performance.

A look into the future

A holistic view is increasingly required for the construction of such infrastructure facilities, as shown in an article by Kit . Not only the manufacturing costs, but also the effects on traffic and the costs over the entire life cycle are taken into account. This comprehensive analysis is crucial to meet the challenges in infrastructure construction. The experiences that are collected in the dismantling and new construction of bridges can in the future form the basis for regulations that further increase security and efficiency.