Neue Berliner Brücke in Duisburg auf der BAB 59

Abstract

The new Berliner Brücke in Duisburg

The Berliner Brücke in Duisburg (BAB 59) is one of Germany's largest bridges – and one of the most challenging rehabilitation cases in the federal highway network. Its history is shaped by mining-related ground movements, complex constraints, and ongoing maintenance needs. A replacement is now underway – part of one of the largest motorway projects of the coming years. This is about much more than just replacing an old structure. Located in a dense urban environment, under live traffic, at one of the busiest junctions in the Ruhr area (up to 123,000 AADT, with a heavy traffic share of up to 8 %). The new bridge runs through the city park, residential and industrial areas, crossing railway lines, port and lock facilities, and waterways – and connects directly to the BAB 40 motorway interchange. Nine structures, up to 70 m wide and over 2.1 km long, including four key bridges – Ruhr, Port, Lock, and Station – designed as a “bridge family” with a common architectural language. Skewed railway crossings, tight pier locations, weak soil conditions, and high levels of prefabrication demand tailored solutions. Precisely timed operations, floating in 100 m bridge sections – all under ongoing traffic. Strategic planning is key: the project relies on interdisciplinary cooperation and early market involvement. Planning and execution aim at sustainability, maintainability, and execution reliability.