Bridge Construction in Saltwater Completed Successfully
New Salzbachtal Bridge Opens in Rhine-Main Region, Restoring Major Transportation Route
After a series of construction milestones, the new Salzbachtal Bridge in the Rhine-Main region has been completed, reopening a significant transportation route connecting Wiesbaden, Mainz, Frankfurt, and the Rheingau-Taunus district.
The new bridge, a testament to modern engineering, was assigned to the Arge consortium, consisting of Porr and Plauen Stahl Technologie GmbH. The project, tagged under Bridge Construction, Large-scale Projects, and Infrastructure, among others, was designed for longevity, featuring an integrated drainage system and robust design.
The construction process began with the demolition of the old bridge, which collapsed in June 2021 due to its inability to handle increased heavy traffic. The demolition, carried out in November 2021, involved the removal of around 15,000 tons of concrete and steel in a controlled manner.
The new bridge includes the construction of two steel composite bridges, six reinforced concrete pillars, four abutments, and a reinforced concrete bridge over the Aartal railway. The North Bridge's steel beam skeleton has been connected to the roadway superstructure, and a total of 164 prefabricated concrete elements were placed on the substructure within three weeks.
The installation of the sealant below the caps and the production of the caps themselves were subsequent steps. In September 2022, the first 100-meter-long and 940-tonne-heavy steel section of the south bridge was moved into position using hydraulic presses and steel cables.
Porr Spezialtiefbau was responsible for the foundation works, involving a total of 186 bored piles. The in-situ concrete pouring was carried out in eleven concreting sections using the pilgrim step method. By the end of 2023, the southern half of the bridge was opened, allowing traffic to flow again over the Salzbachtal valley on two lanes in each direction.
The second partial bridge is expected to be completed in the summer of 2025, closing the gap. The completion of the new bridge will provide increased capacity, better noise protection, and enhanced safety. Upon completion, the new Salzbachtal Bridge will serve as a symbol of modern engineering and a strong signal for the performance capability of German infrastructure projects.
In addition to the bridge, the project includes the construction of three rainwater retention basins, integrated into a modern drainage system. The A66 motorway, crossing the Salzbachtal valley, has resumed traffic in both directions following its state-of-the-art reconstruction.
The exact company responsible for the planning and construction of the new Salzbachtal Bridge, as well as the total number of Bohlenzapfe used in the ground works, are not specified in the provided search results. However, the new bridge's opening marks a significant milestone in the region's transportation infrastructure.
