Linking Poland and Germany – a new Rail Bridge over the River Odra: the Küstrin-Kietz Crossing

Following the first prize in a two-stage limited design competition, the Anglo-German team of Knight Architects and Schüßler-Plan Berlin have developed two new bridges which will be the central part of the Berlin-Kostrzyn-Gorzów railway modernisation programme: one is over the River Odra crossing the German- Polish border and the other crosses the river floodplain on the German side.The team’s solution for the main crossing is an elegant network arch spanning 130m. The majestic steel structure, with its crown positioned above the axis of the state border, will be a landmark that will not only highlight the importance of the location but will be also a welcoming gesture to everyone traveling between the countries. The smaller “Odervorflut” bridge, located 500m west uses the same architectural language as the main bridge creating a family of slender and elegant structures.