The capital has a big problem with its overpasses and crossings – many are dilapidated and broken. The new buildings are being delayed and are becoming more expensive.
By Katja Colmenares and Johannes Malinowski
If you look at the city map, the Fahlenberg Bridge is one of the most important transport connections in south-east Berlin. But the structure is crumbling.
If the bridge over the Gosen Canal did not exist, a detour of 30 kilometers (via Köpenick) and even 42 kilometers (via Erkner) would be necessary from Müggelheim to Gosen (see infographic). But the building from 1983 is dilapidated. In 2011, a renovation failed. It quickly became clear: a new bridge was needed! But the start of construction was repeatedly postponed. First to 2015, later 2018 and 2019.
“There you can see again how neglected the transport infrastructure in the south-east of Berlin is being treated by the responsible Senate administration,” says FDP MP Stefan Förster. He made an inquiry to the traffic administration about the bridge. According to the answer, the work should start later this year. “According to the current status, the postponement can be expected in the second quarter of 2022,” writes State Secretary Markus Kamrad (51, Greens).
“The completion of the new bridge is currently targeted for the end of the second quarter of 2023.” The old bridge structure is to be relocated and used as a temporary bridge.
According to Förster, the postponement of construction is accompanied by increasing costs. “They have since increased from 3.4 million to 5.7 million euros,” he says. “Due to increased steel prices, the client expects further cost increases.”
According to the traffic administration, low-voltage cables have already been laid, trees have been laid, 42 replacement trees have been planted and bat quarters and nesting boxes for breeding birds have been installed.
After 113 years: Moltke Bridge is renewed
Demolition after 113 years – the Moltke Bridge is finally being rebuilt! Work on the replacement building began over the weekend. The structure that crosses the S-Bahn tracks at the Botanical Garden station (line S1) has been partially closed for years. Engineers had ordered the demolition of the dilapidated bridge.
Mobility Senator Bettina Jarasch (53, Greens) gave the official starting signal for the installation of the temporary bridge construction on Saturday, which will ensure barrier-free access to the platform during the construction period.
In April, at the latest in May, the actual demolition work on the old stone bridge will begin. In the next two years of reconstruction. Wide footpaths and one lane in each direction for bicycle and car traffic will be available on the new bridge to connect to the S-Bahn station. Bicycle parking spaces are planned.
Provision is also being made for the future of the railway: there is still space (clearance clearance 5.70 metres) for a new double-track, electrified main line Potsdam – Berlin, which can rush through under the new Moltke Bridge at a speed of 160 km/h.
Costs? So far, around ten million euros have been planned for the replacement building. Everything should be finished in 2024.
Wuhletal Bridge – conversion takes five years
The Wuhletal Bridge, which was only built in 1984, was so broken – even in danger of collapsing – that it was closed in June 2019.
The long-delayed demolition will now take place this year. The start of the new building is planned for 2023. The dismantling of the Wuhletal Bridge should be completed in the third quarter of this year. The new bridge structure to be built with significantly improved cycle paths and footpaths is expected to be ready by mid-2025.
At the same time, the Märkische Allee between Mehrower Allee and the Ahrensfelde S-Bahn station will be renewed, including a better connection to the adjacent S-Bahn stations. That will take another two years longer, until 2027.
The total cost of the project is currently 15 million euros.
S-Bahn bridge too low – conversion of the Niemetz bridge
The problem bridge in Neukölln is also being rebuilt.
It takes the S-Bahn route in Rixdorf via Niemetzstraße. Reason for the conversion: With a height of only 3.80 meters, the bridge is very low. Trucks and buses kept getting stuck, ramming into the structure and damaging the bridge and your vehicle. Deutsche Bahn is responsible. And they have been planning the conversion since 2015. Since a bridge over which rails run cannot be easily raised, Niemetzstraße is now being lowered – by 70 centimetres.
In addition, the road is to be widened from 14 to 23 meters. For wider sidewalks and cycle paths. For this purpose, Niemetzstraße is closed to motor vehicle and bicycle traffic in both directions between Saalestraße and Mittelbuschweg from now until the end of the year. Pedestrians can still get through.
Pyramid Bridge new from 2028
The pyramid bridge built in 1939 is in a very bad structural condition.
It is only 15 meters long, but not only carries cars, but also trams across the Wuhle and is a heavily frequented access road to Union Berlin in the Alte Försterei on match days.
Before the old T-beam bridge is demolished, makeshift bridges will also be erected here so that traffic does not come to a complete standstill on the spot. Preparations for this are currently underway. The new Pyramid Bridge is scheduled to be completed in 2028. Pedestrians and cyclists will get new, comfortable facilities. Total cost: 3.7 million euros.
That’s how dilapidated Berlin’s motorway bridges are
The Berlin motorway bridges are also dilapidated. There are a total of 259 motorway bridges in Berlin. The federal government is responsible for them. 27 of them – including Alemannenbrücke, Borussenbrücke, Cordesstrassenbrücke – are in urgent need of renovation!
All bridge structures along the A 114 are currently being rebuilt (exception: Heinersdorfer Bridge), costs: up to four million euros. In addition, the demolition (from 2024) of the Rudolf Wissell Bridge in Charlottenburg is being prepared. Here alone, the construction costs are estimated at 200 million euros.
Each individual measure is a time-consuming project. With planning and approval and without complaints, the replacement of a single bridge takes four to six years – plus construction time.
There are 1029 motorway bridges in Brandenburg, which are on average 26 years old. None of them are blocked. According to the Northeast branch of Autobahn GmbH des Bundes, the greatest need for action is on the western and eastern Berlin Ring.