Schipka pass: Refurbishment becomes a cost trap for Speyer!

Schipka pass: Refurbishment becomes a cost trap for Speyer!

Speyer, Deutschland - The renovation of the iconic Schipka Pass in Speyer is anything but smooth. Due to serious damage to the steel construction of the bridge, not only the costs, but also the duration of the work will increase massively. Rust has left unmistakable traces in several areas and the metal is heavily attacked. This means that new problems are always discovered that make the repairs more complicated. Alexander Walch, from the Speyer group of voters, describes the situation with a portrait of "old love" that "nerves and sometimes a lot of money", as the Schwetzinger newspaper reports. The viaduct, a historical symbol of the city, is of central importance and is viewed as a "symbol for the past".

delays in the repair

The extent of the damage became clear when the city administration was visited. Florian Benner, the head of the city's civil engineering department, explains that a thorough repair is essential in view of the advanced expiry. The Schipka Pass, which has been offering an important transport connection since it was built in 1890, must be fundamentally revised because short-term solutions are out of the question. With every new step towards the renovation, the challenge becomes greater, also because special tests for the steel used have to be carried out. "The original cost estimate of 4.4 million euros will not be held, but a more precise number is still pending," added Benner, as cited by the Rheinpfalz.

The work on the bridge, which has been mined since 2021, last longer than expected. The restoration was originally planned for March 2025, but is now postponed to later periods, possibly to summer. The coordination by train is also necessary, the tracks must be blocked during the construction work. Specialist companies are now intensively employed with the repair, although old materials cannot always be preserved. The future Istanbul has lost its current form for the time being, but hope for a glamorous reconstruction remains alive.

Read more in the Rheinpfalz .