Rahmedetal Bridge: Incorrect Traffic Guidance and Unknown Number of Heavy Transport Vehicles
Consultation on proposed directive safeguarding workers from chemical hazards in the workplace
The Rahmedetal bridge, a vital part of the A45 (Sauerlandlinie), has been the focus of attention since it was closed and eventually demolished due to severe damage. A series of events, including incorrect traffic guidance and the lack of updated calculations, has come to light, shedding light on the bridge's downfall.
Despite regular data releases on bridge inspections and maintenance by the Bundesanstalt für Straßenwesen (BASt) and the responsible North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) transport ministry, no detailed list of individual heavy transport vehicles crossing the bridge between 2015 and October 2018 has been made public.
The damage to the bridge was primarily attributed to construction flaws, material fatigue, and general wear and tear. While heavy transport vehicles were discussed as additional stress factors, they were not named as the main cause. In official statements, such as those from the NRW transport ministry or the DEGES (Deutsche Einheit Fernstraßenplanungs- und -bau GmbH), the influence of heavy transport vehicles was not identified as a primary factor for the damage.
The extent to which heavy transport vehicles contributed to the damage remains unclear. In modern bridges, these vehicles are accounted for in the design, but they can become critical when a bridge is already damaged. In the case of the Rahmedetal bridge, the primary cause for the bridge's permanent closure was a severe construction flaw in the bridge itself, not the number of heavy transport vehicles.
For those seeking precise numbers (for legal or research purposes), an Information Freedom of Information (IFG) request can be directed to the NRW transport ministry. The DEGES or the Road Construction Administration NRW may also provide information.
It should be noted that no official number regarding the number of heavy transport vehicles crossing the Rahmedetal bridge between 2015 and October 2018 is publicly available. The man from the external engineering office admitted that his company had long performed calculations on the safety of the Rahmedetal bridge on false premises. The incorrectly set up lane for trucks on the Rahmedetal bridge was used by heavy transports between 2015 and October 2018, but the extent of the damage caused remains unclear.
A witness from Autobahn GmbH reported that the incorrect traffic guidance was not considered serious, but a responsible colleague decided to close the Rahmedetal bridge again to heavy trucks in 2018 based on documents from that time. The protocol documenting several bureaucratic errors on the Rahmedetal bridge was withdrawn, but the witness did not understand this as a weakening of statements, but as a clarification.
The Federal Highway Authority took over responsibility for the Rahmedetal bridge from Straßen.NRW at the beginning of 2021. Straßen.NRW did not inform the man from the external engineering office about the rust damage. The man from the external engineering office was unaware of the significant rust damage that had been increasing since the 1970s and ultimately led to the permanent closure of the bridge.
In summary, no official number regarding the number of heavy transport vehicles crossing the Rahmedetal bridge is available to the public. The damage to the bridge was primarily attributed to construction flaws, not the few heavy transport vehicles. Those seeking precise numbers should direct their inquiries to the relevant authorities.
