New bridge Jump over the Emscher: Land brand for Castrop-Rauxel!

New bridge Jump over the Emscher: Land brand for Castrop-Rauxel!

The region has had a new landmark since September 30, 2023: The “Jump over the Emscher” was ceremoniously inaugurated by Klara Geywitz, the Federal Minister of Living, Urban Development and Building. In Castrop-Rauxel, directly on the border with Recklinghausen, the Emscher cooperative and the city have created an impressive bridge structure for years. This reinforcement bridge with a total length of about 412 meters not only crosses the Emscher, but also the Rhein-Herne Canal, and offers numerous viewpoints for pedestrians and cyclists.

With a weight of 900 tons, the elegant bridge connects the urban quarters with the natural adventure park "Emscherland". The striking design of the 12 meter high pylon, which supports the main fields of the bridge, stands out significantly and could establish itself as a popular photo motif in the region. "The Emscher renovation not only consists of water management, but also embellishes the Ruhr area," says Geywitz. It emphasizes that the bridge not only connects cities together, but also opens the area more for pedestrians and cyclists.

an important construction project

The financing of the bridge was supported as part of the federal program "National Projects of Urban Surround" with eight million euros. The total costs amount to around 12.8 million euros, and together with the construction of the new building of the nature and water experience park, the renaturation of the Emscher and the open spaces in the area, the Emscher cooperative has invested around 45 million euros in order to increase the quality of life in the region and upgrade the former MeiDei area.

The "jump over the Emscher" symbolically stands for the new self-confidence in the region, which once had a bad reputation through open sewage courses and as unattractive "no-go areas". Today the Emscher-Aue near the bridge is an example of positive changes. The newly designed landscape and the attractive infrastructure invite you to enjoy the surroundings.

In particular, the increasing leisure traffic at the Wasserkreuz in Castrop-Rauxel is upgraded by the new path connection. The innovative construction of the bridge also ensures varied views of the bank landscape, which makes the value of the entire Emscher conversion noticeable.

The location for bridge construction could not be more symbolic: the Emscher flows not only over the Rhein-Herne Canal on the Wasserkreuz in Castrop-Rauxel, but also under the ground the emperor sewer (AKE), which plays a crucial role in the renaturation. This channel extends over 51 kilometers from Dortmund to Dinslaken and is buried between eight and 40 meters deep.

numbers and facts about the bridge

• Total length of the bridge: 412 meters
• Longest tension above the Rhine-Herne Canal: around 108 meters
• usable bridge width: 2.50 meters
• steel supports on concrete base: 4 pieces
• height above the top edge: 12 meters
• built -in tons of steel: around 900 tons
• Construction: spring 2021

The "jump over the Emscher" is not just a bridge, but a sign of change and progress in a region that has revitalized itself and is now becoming a more inviting place for all citizens. More information about this project can be found in a report at www.wirindortmund.de .