Dismantling the bridge over the Ilmenau: construction begins on July 21st!

Dismantling the bridge over the Ilmenau: construction begins on July 21st!

Preparations for the dismantling of the pedestrian and cycle bridge over the Ilmenau at Uelzen's Badue leisure pool are in full swing. Next Monday, July 21, the demolition of the old structure, which has already been closed since February 2024, will begin. The entire project will cost 1.8 million euros, with the state of Lower Saxony covering up to 80 percent of the costs. How Uelzen press reported, the new building is planned for May 2026, and road users will have to be prepared for restrictions until it is completed.

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

Construction process and traffic restrictions

The construction site is initially being set up, with the pedestrian and cycle path at Wieselhof being closed from Monday. The Wieselhof street could also be closed at short notice for the transport of larger components. Parking spaces at Wendehammer will also no longer be available and residents will be informed accordingly. The Badue parking lot will be converted into a construction site entrance, which could also affect access to the popular leisure pool.

The new bridge will be 45 meters long and 3 meters wide, making it one meter wider than the previous model. The foundation and building construction are designed to the most modern standards, which is an important measure given the high traffic volume in the region. The need to replace existing bridges is underlined by the increasing volume of traffic and the age structure of transport routes in Germany. bast highlights that investment in infrastructure is essential to ensure road safety and performance.

A look into the future

The construction of such infrastructure facilities increasingly requires a holistic approach, as described in an article by KIT shown. Not only the manufacturing costs are taken into account, but also the impact on traffic and the costs over the entire life cycle. This comprehensive analysis is crucial to meeting the challenges in infrastructure construction. The experience gained from dismantling and rebuilding bridges can in the future form the basis for regulations that further increase safety and efficiency.