Hamburg’s Sternbrücke: A 3,700-Ton Bridge Moves into Place
Hamburg, July 26 – The replacement of Hamburg’s historic Sternbrücke is one of the city’s most spectacular construction projects. A new 3,700-ton steel bridge, measuring 108 meters long, 21 meters wide, and 25 meters high at its tallest point, is being transported and installed this week.
The intricate operation began with the cutting and dismantling of the old bridge, which started on Friday morning. The new bridge, assembled near Schulterblatt, will be moved approximately 500 meters to the railway embankment on Thursday.
Logistical Masterpiece: Transporting the Giant Bridge
The transport of the massive structure is a significant logistical challenge. The bridge will be moved on specialized hydraulic vehicles, dubbed “centipedes,” which are capable of millimeter-accurate steering. These vehicles, sourced from Canada, Africa, and across Europe, are crucial for safely maneuvering the bridge through a narrow corridor, past a gas station with only a few centimeters of clearance on each side.
Janna Widmaier, project manager for Deutsche Bahn, emphasized the precision required: “These heavy-duty machines allow us to move this bridge safely.”
Prior to the transport, extensive preparations were made. Numerous streetlights were cut down, and the canopy of a gas station was trimmed. Additionally, 86 trees were felled as part of the construction. The road surface was specially reinforced to withstand the immense weight, and height differences between curbs and the road were leveled, as the “centipedes” can barely handle inclines.
Installation Timeline and Challenges
The transport of the new bridge from its pre-assembly site on Max-Brauer-Allee to its final location over Stresemannstraße is expected to take 12 to 15 hours, beginning on Thursday. Once at the site, the bridge will be rotated into position and then lowered onto giant hydraulic cylinders, allowing for precise placement. Finally, the railway tracks will be connected.
Deutsche Bahn’s schedule anticipates the transport on Thursday and Friday, with installation primarily over the weekend. However, a smoother process could lead to an earlier completion.
Concerns were raised by the Left Party faction in Hamburg regarding potential damage to underground sewers and cable shafts during the transport. The Senate, in response, stated that all protective measures are continuously coordinated with Deutsche Bahn and utility companies.
Despite this, the Federal Railway Authority acknowledged an unavoidable residual risk with a transport of this magnitude. Widmaier’s team re-measured the bridge’s weight, confirming it at 3,685 tons, which is within the permissible range for this heavy transport.
Impact on Residents and Traffic
During the maneuver, from July 31 to August 2, some residents will need to evacuate their homes due to safety concerns and the inability of emergency services to access the area. Pedestrian paths on Max-Brauer-Allee, between Stresemannstraße and Schulterblatt, will be completely closed, making apartments and businesses along this section inaccessible.
The construction project, replacing the old bridge from 1926, is expected to be completed by the end of August. Rail traffic is scheduled to resume on August 31, and the Max-Brauer-Allee / Stresemannstraße intersection is set to reopen on September 2. However, traffic restrictions will continue until November as ancillary areas around the intersection are redeveloped.
The replacement of the Sternbrücke has already caused significant traffic disruptions in Hamburg. The closure of the Max-Brauer-Allee / Stresemannstraße intersection led to the installation of barriers to prevent cars from using shortcuts through the Schanzenviertel, though these also created problems. Furthermore, regional and long-distance trains, as well as S-Bahn services, are subject to diversions and closures until the end of August, affecting surrounding areas as well.
Source: https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/hamburg/wie-laeuft-der-einbau-der-sternbruecke-ab,sternbruecke-152.html
