Renovation Underway on Heidelberg's Bicycle-Friendly Stone Arch Bridge
Heidelberg's Ziegelhäuser Bridge to Undergo Reconstruction
The Ziegelhäuser Bridge in Heidelberg, which has been closed since July 21 for structural testing, is set for a new construction. The Heidelberg City Council has decided to build a new crossing of the Neckar, aiming to improve the bridge's accessibility and safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
The bridge will be narrower than the current structure, but it will still allow cars to cross the Neckar in one lane per direction, as before. A footpath will be provided parallel to the traffic lane in the direction of Schlierbach, ensuring a safe passage for pedestrians.
During the reconstruction, a separate bridge for cyclists will be built parallel to the bridge on the eastern side, towards the Neckar valley, before the demolition of the existing bridge. This will allow pedestrians and cyclists between Schlierbach and Ziegelhausen to cross the Neckar without detours.
The City Council presented four planning variants for the future crossing of the Ziegelhäuser Bridge in early July. The third variant, advocated by the city, maintains an offer for those who would otherwise be particularly affected. This variant keeps the bridge's concept but places it on the opposite side. Variant two for the Ziegelhäuser Bridge construction has a similar concept but the bridge would have been built on the other side.
Variant four for the Ziegelhäuser Bridge construction would have been the most expensive and would have come without support pillars, a big plus for shipping according to the Water and Shipping Authority, but was found too expensive by the city. Variant one for the Ziegelhäuser Bridge construction provides for a wider bridge to integrate the cycle and footpath as before, but would have meant no direct connection between Schlierbach and Ziegelhausen during the new construction.
The bridge is being tested to find out if it can continue to be used as planned until at least 2029, specifically about the integrity of the steel cables embedded in the bridge and guaranteeing its load-bearing capacity. The mayor, Jürgen Odszuck, stated during a site visit on Wednesday that the bridge is overall in "no good condition", but the cable elements look very good, much better than expected.
The total costs of the new construction are currently difficult to predict due to fluctuating prices for building materials. The Ziegelhäuser Bridge will be closed to car traffic during the new construction and is currently fully closed until August 3. The bridge will continue to be examined every six months.
For the latest and exact information, we recommend checking Heidelberg city planning resources or local news outlets, as they would have the most current official updates.
The City Council's decision to build a new Ziegelhäuser Bridge aims to improve transportation and public-transit, with a focus on pedestrian and cyclist safety. Finance and construction costs are currently uncertain due to fluctuating building material prices. The new structure will incorporate home-and-garden lifestyle elements, such as a footpath, to enhance its user-friendliness.
