Mühlentor Bridge in Lübeck: Complete closure for all vehicles due to structural damage!

Mühlentor Bridge in Lübeck: Complete closure for all vehicles due to structural damage!

There are currently great concerns about the Mühlentor Bridge in Lübeck. Due to serious structural damage, the bridge is now completely closed, which has consequences for all vehicle traffic. Around 21,000 vehicles, including 1,400 trucks and 730 buses, use this important transport hub every day. The city is faced with the challenge of redesigning the surrounding transport routes, as twelve city bus routes have to be rerouted. Drivers should prepare for significant disruptions caused by the diversions.

The current problems are the result of a special inspection that confirmed a deterioration in the bridge's status since the last inspection in summer 2023. This situation has made a full closure necessary to ensure the safety of all road users. The Mühlentor Bridge, which is almost 130 years old, has had its traffic safety restricted several times since 2019. The width of the road was reduced and sidewalks were relocated onto the road. A temporary bridge for pedestrians and cyclists was opened in May 2023 to at least support non-motorized traffic.

Renovation plans for the Mühlentor Bridge

The renovation of the listed bridge is scheduled for autumn 2026 after the originally planned start of renovation in the third quarter of 2024 was postponed several times. The construction period is expected to take several years. Recent inspections have revealed spalling on the abutment structures and cracks in the metal sheets, and the existing gaps on the bridge bases have increased.

At a time when the transport infrastructure in Germany places an intensive focus on maintenance and modernization measures, the situation at the Mühlentor Bridge is not an isolated case. Germany has around 40,300 bridges, many of them from times between 1960 and 1985, when heavy traffic increased and infrastructure requirements changed. A comprehensive bridge modernization program was launched to improve the load-bearing capacity and traffic safety of older bridges. This modernization work is not only adapted to traffic conditions, but also in close coordination with the road construction authorities of the federal states and the federal government.

The Mühlentor Bridge is part of this complex structure, and its renovation will be important not only for Lübeck, but also for the entire region, which depends on efficient transport routes. There is also a strong focus on the goal of better connecting European transport systems, which affects many aspects of economic development.

Overall, the situation around the Mühlentor Bridge clearly shows how important regular maintenance and inspection of our bridge infrastructure is in order to ensure the safety of road users and maintain their mobility. While we wait for further information regarding the renovation plans, it remains a time of patience and necessary adjustments for the citizens of Lübeck.

For further details on general bridge modernization in Germany: Ministry of Construction and Transport reports on bridge modernization.