Berlin bridge

Since the beginning of November 2022, the Berlin Bridge is only passable on two of the three lanes in each direction. Due to the new calculations of the load-bearing capacity, this step is unfortunately unavoidable. In addition, vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tons are no longer allowed to drive on the bridge. Exceptions apply for rescue vehicles and public buses. The areas have been signposted accordingly and the roadway marked. A protective wall has also been installed.

The outermost lanes (turning lanes) on the bridge are closed in each case. However, the on- and off-ramps remain passable.

The regulation will apply for the remaining service life of the bridge, which is currently estimated at slightly less than ten years.

The bridge is safe even under the conditions described. Even if a vehicle comes to a standstill on the bridge in a traffic jam, for example, there is no danger. Of course, our experts continue to check the condition of the structure on an ongoing basis.

The Berlin Bridge dates from a time when many structures were built with prestressed concrete and little reinforcement of the concrete components. At that time, there was also no long-term experience with these structures. In the meantime, the Berlin Bridge is almost 70 years old. Today we know that prestressed concrete is subject to severe changes over its lifetime. For this reason, the federal administration introduced so-called "recalculation guidelines" for these sensitive structures in order to be able to determine the load-bearing capacity. The result was that the Berlin Bridge must be closed to vehicles over 7.5 tons. In addition, the lanes currently have to be reduced, at least in part, to two lanes per direction.

In July 2021, there was a council resolution on the subject of the "Berliner Brücke" to develop the basis for a replacement bridge. Since then, various options have been examined. The preliminary investigations - which were discussed between representatives of the city administration, the council factions and the local councils concerned - have now shown that a new bridge is more economical and therefore less expensive. A tunnel solution would be about four times as expensive as a new bridge because, among other things, all connections of the traffic participants (i.e. pedestrians, bicycles, cars, public transport) would have to be created anew.

However, the desired planning resolution is not yet a decision to start construction, but enables the administration to quickly and more concretely tackle the next steps in the planning process for a new bridge construction.

With the desired planning resolution for a new bridge construction, the council gives the green light for this and the city administration continues to exclusively pursue the new construction. This means that the city can now take the next steps in the planning process for a new bridge quickly and more concretely.

Since the beginning of November 2022, the lanes in each direction have been reduced from three to two. The two outer lanes are closed in each case. On- and off-ramps are not affected. In addition, vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tons are no longer allowed on the bridge. Exceptions will be made for emergency vehicles and public buses. The areas have been signposted accordingly and the roadway marked. A protective wall has also been installed.

There are exceptions for emergency vehicles, such as the fire department, police, THW, DRK or customs, and public buses. Clearing and gritting vehicles as well as company vehicles are also allowed to use the bridge to maintain traffic safety in the event of snow and black ice and to repair road damage. They are still allowed to cross the Berliner Brücke. The bridge is closed to all other vehicles over 7.5 tons.

Due to structural problems, the bridge structure Berliner Brücke is closed for vehicles with a permissible total weight of 7.5 tons or more until further notice.

The installation of the corresponding signage and the designation of the detour routes U 88, U 66 as well as U 99 and U 77 took place in the week from 31.10. to 04.11.2022.

For vehicles weighing 7.5 tons or more, the detour in the north leads via the B 188, A 39 in the west (U 88) and via the B 188, Neuhäuser Straße/Vorsfelde in the east (U 66).

The southern detour leads via Heinrich-Nordhoff-Strasse, A 39 in the west (U 99) and via Dieselstrasse, Neuhäuser Strasse/Vorsfelde in the east (U 77).

There is nothing concrete yet. First, the city needs the green light from the Wolfsburg City Council to be able to plan the new bridge intensively.
However, the preliminary studies have revealed a few possibilities. It is important to the city that there is no full closure during the construction work, but that traffic can flow at any time. Therefore, the idea is to first rebuild the bridge on one side - during which the old bridge can continue to be used - and then to divert traffic to the new bridge section and then to build the other bridge section. Finally, the two new bridge sections will then be "pushed together". Currently, the city expects the two bridge sections to take about a year each to build.

With the bridge, pedestrian and bicycle traffic is also being considered. A separate feasibility study will be commissioned for this. It is also conceivable that the pedestrian and bicycle traffic will be routed separately, i.e. have their own bridge. However, all this will only become concrete in the coming planning phase.

Of course, the main focus is on the functionality of the bridge - that is, that cars, trucks, pedestrians and cyclists can safely get from one side to the other. For this purpose, not only everyday traffic is taken into account, but also the fan tours at home games of VfL Wolfsburg and the Grizzlies. In this respect, the police are also a close coordination partner.
In addition, the Berliner Brücke is also a popular vantage point with a good view of the Autostadt, the Volkswagen plant, the Allerpark or the castle. This also plays a role in the planning.
In addition, it should not be forgotten that the Berlin Bridge crosses the rail line to Berlin and the Mittelland Canal. The construction work therefore also affects these two arterial roads. This means that Deutsche Bahn and the Federal Navigation Authority are also among the partners with whom the city must coordinate.

It is not possible to give a reliable answer to this question at this point in time. What is clear, however, is that such a new bridge will be expensive. Roughly speaking, the city expects it to cost in the mid-double-digit millions.

The city of Wolfsburg has also examined the possibility of replacing the Berlin Bridge with a tunnel. In the end, this solution is not economical. A tunnel would be about four times as expensive as a new bridge. In addition, a tunnel would involve a longer construction period and the traffic connections - i.e. road, bike path, footpath, among others - would have to be redesigned, especially at the St. Annen junction and the Schlosskreuzung.

City of Wolfsburg
Division Road Construction and Project Coordination
Porschestrasse 49
38440 Wolfsburg

Telephone: 05361 28-1234
E-mail to the Service Center