The dilapidated Westendbrücke was demolished in April. It is now to be rebuilt in the same place. (archive picture)
© dpa
Following the demolition of the dilapidated Westendbrücke in the west of Berlin, a new replacement is to be built on the same site. The project has now been put out to tender.
According to the website of the responsible project management company Deges, the contract should be awarded in the fall and construction work should then begin as soon as possible.
The construction time estimated in the tender is just under two years (22 months). The construction time and the least possible restrictions for rail traffic were decisive criteria for the award of the contract, it was said. The new construction of the dilapidated Westendbrücke had been planned for a long time. Originally, however, it was to be built next to the bridge so that traffic could have been routed over the old structure for the time being.
In March of this year, however, the Ringbahnbrücke further south had to be closed unexpectedly due to a crack in the supporting structure. This also affected the Westendbrücke. Both bridges, which were built in the early 1960s, were demolished shortly afterwards. The short-term closures caused considerable traffic chaos around the exhibition grounds for some time. In the meantime, the detour have settled into place.
As a result of the demolition, the new Westendbrücke can now be built in the same place. Deges has since withdrawn the application for the planning approval procedure for the earlier construction plans, according to the company's website. The tender for the construction of the new Ringbahnbrücke, on the other hand, has been running for some time. The contract should be awarded in the summer. According to the information provided, both bridges should be completed around the same time.