- Land is pressuring for new Hunte Bridge
Lower Saxony wants to accelerate the new construction of the Hunte Bridge in Elsfleth (district of Wesermarsch). The recent accident on the bridge once again highlighted its importance for the regional economy, the Lower Saxony Ministry of Economics announced. According to the current schedule, the new bridge is to be put into operation in 2028. The state is in close exchange with the railway and will soon seek a conversation with the federal government to prioritize the construction again.
Two ship accidents in a short period of time
The railway has had plans for some time to replace the rotating bridge from 1927. The project was originally scheduled to be tackled and implemented by 2030. The time plan changed with the first accident in February, when an inland ship collided with the bridge and severely damaged the structure. The railway then set up a temporary bridge that was 30 centimeters lower and could not be opened for ships.
This meant that the seaports of Brake and Nordenham were reconnected to the rail network after a few weeks. However, the port of Oldenburg is still not accessible for seagoing ships because the height of the bridge is not sufficient for the passage of large ships, and there is no alternative route as in Brake and Nordenham. Economics Minister Olaf Lies (SPD) set up a task force to accelerate the construction of the new rotating bridge as a long-term solution.
Last week, a ship collided with the bridge again, cutting off the harbors once again for an indefinite period and causing an economic loss of millions, according to their own statements. The repairs to the temporary bridge are expected to take several weeks, according to the railway's estimate.
Higher and wider - plans for the new bridge
However, the second accident has not delayed the plans for the new bridge, a spokesman for the railway assured. Currently, the railway is preparing the documents for the tender in coordination with the state, federal government, and the waterways and shipping authority, and clarifying the financing details. "The talks are not yet concluded," the spokesman said.
According to the railway, the clearance height of the new bridge will be 1.93 meters higher than the original bridge. In addition, the opening for shipping will be widened to around 40 meters. "The common goal is also to plan and build a cycle and pedestrian path," the railway spokesman said. The new route will run slightly offset from the current railway track, allowing trains to continue using the temporary bridge during the works.
The repeated ship accidents have emphasized the need for urgent improvements in bridge safety. Consequently, discussions about enhancing the clearance height and width of the Hunte Bridge are underway, aiming to prevent such incidents in the future.
