Haarbachtal Bridge: Innovative insertion brings traffic relief closer!

Haarbachtal Bridge: Innovative insertion brings traffic relief closer!

The construction of the new Haarbachtal Bridge is progressing with great enthusiasm! On Monday, December 11, 2024, the first of two bridge elements was successfully placed in position. This impressive insertion took place at 11:30 a.m. and marks significant progress in the construction of the new bridge over the Haarbachtal. The new elements are each 157 meters long and weigh around 1,400 tons aachen.de reported. A second element is expected to be installed on December 17th. Thanks to innovative technologies and processes, the construction time will be significantly shortened, so that road users can expect traffic to be opened soon.

Those responsible are using an extraordinary hydraulic process to bring the enormous bridge parts into place. Instead of being pushed directly into the final position, the elements are safely moved using hydropneumatic stacking units and transportable platforms (Self-Propelled Modular Transporter – SPMT). This procedure makes it possible to avoid expensive and time-consuming earthworks that would otherwise have been necessary. The bridge elements are positioned precisely with a 30-meter-long stem, which can shorten the construction time by weeks, reported Autobahn-GmbH.

Background and meaning

The original bridge construction from 1956 had to be blown up in January 2024 due to multiple damages. The new construction is now taking place parallel to the nearby “Auf der Hüls” bridge, which was also damaged. The completion of the new Haarbachtal Bridge, which will be worked on by up to 120 employees at the same time, is expected to be completed in September 2025, which will enable it to be put into operation earlier than originally planned. The aim is to fully reopen the two lanes in each direction and one shoulder of the new bridge to traffic, as outlined in the detailed planning Autobahn GmbH can be found.