Dismantling of Old Sternbrücke Bridge Continues in Hamburg Amidst Delays
Hamburg, July 27, 2026 – The intricate process of dismantling the 100-year-old Sternbrücke bridge in Hamburg is ongoing, with workers using cutting torches to remove the heavy steel girders. While the new 3,700-ton bridge is ready for installation, the removal of the old structure has encountered delays, extending the operation into the beginning of the new week.
The initial phase of the dismantling began on Friday morning, with workers cutting the steel girders. However, the planned lifting of bridge sections was postponed due to a transporter delivering crucial crane parts being stuck in traffic. Work resumed in the afternoon, with the first 140-ton, 26-meter-long section successfully lifted around 1:00 PM.
Challenges in a Densely Populated Area
Frank Stoll, a bridge specialist, highlighted the complexity of the operation, especially in a densely populated residential area. “The difficult part is lifting out the first section,” Stoll stated, explaining that expansion joints were deliberately burned in to provide some play and prevent the section from getting stuck.
The individual bridge sections, each weighing approximately 140 tons, are being transported by crane to Vogelhüttendeich in Wilhelmsburg for unloading. The old Sternbrücke was reportedly offered to the city by the railway as a gift, but there has been no interest in the historical bridge parts.
Resident Frustration Over Disruptions
The construction project has drawn many onlookers, but also considerable frustration from local residents. “It’s completely unnecessary on this scale,” one resident commented, adding, “We’ve been lied to. They’ve been building here at night for months.” Residents living near a section of Max-Brauer-Allee will also need to evacuate their homes for several days during the installation of the new bridge, which is expected to arrive on Thursday.
New Bridge Installation and Project Timeline
The new 108-meter-long and 21-meter-wide bridge, weighing nearly 4,000 tons, will be transported approximately 500 meters from its construction site at Schulterblatt to the railway embankment. Special “millipedes” will move the bridge across Max-Brauer-Allee to the installation site at the Stresemannstraße intersection.
The entire construction project, replacing the original 1926 bridge, is scheduled for completion by the end of August. Rail traffic is expected to resume on August 31, and the Max-Brauer-Allee / Stresemannstraße intersection will reopen to traffic on September 2. However, traffic restrictions will remain in place until November due to ongoing reconstruction of adjacent areas around the intersection.
Impact on Traffic and Public Transport
The closure of the Max-Brauer-Allee / Stresemannstraße intersection has led to significant traffic problems in Hamburg. Barriers have been installed to prevent cars from using shortcuts through the Schanzenviertel, but these have also caused issues. Until the end of August, long-distance and regional trains, as well as S-Bahn services in Hamburg, will be affected by diversions and closures, with restrictions also impacting surrounding areas.
This project is one of Hamburg’s most spectacular construction endeavors, involving the complex movement of a bridge just 300 meters through the heart of the city.
Source: NDR.de
