Konrad Adenauer Bridge (Ludwigshafen am Rhein–Mannheim)
Encyclopedia
The Konrad Adenauer Bridge (in German: Konrad-Adenauer-Brücke) is one of two road bridges crossing the Rhine between the German cities of Mannheim
and Ludwigshafen am Rhein
. The other bridge is the Kurt Schumacher Bridge.
The road bridge connects a network of roads from behind Mannheim Palace
across the Rhine to Ludwigshafen. It carries Federal Highway 37 and a tram track. Two rail bridges are adjacent to the road bridge, carrying the Palatine Ludwig Railway and the Rhine-Neckar S-Bahn line.
built a floating bridge, which consisted of a platform secured to two barges anchored in the Rhine. In 1705 this bridge was replaced by a pontoon bridge that had to be rebuilt as a result of flood damage.
In the age of industrialisation and the railway, it became increasingly important by 1863 to build a fixed bridge at the site of the pontoon bridge. The bridge was designed in 1863 and 1864. The first chairman of the planning commission was Paul Camille von Denis
. The combined road and rail bridge was built between 1865 and 1868. Impressive portal buildings, designed by the Karlsruhe architect Josef Durm, were built at the ends of the bridge. A sculpture of Minerva with industry and trade made by Karl Friedrich Moest was erected on the railway bridge.
The bridges themselves were built as 10 metre high steel trusses. Their total length was about 270 metres, the railway bridge was 7.5 metres wide and the road bridge was 6.5 metres wide. On each side there was a 1.8 metre-wide footpaths. By 1906 the bridge was found to be too narrow. It took until 1928 to begin planning an upgrade of the bridge. A new railway bridge was built directly beside the existing bridge in 1931 and 1932. The old railway bridge was converted for road traffic. The new bridge was also built with a steel framework, but without arches. In 1936 the bridge was named by the Nazis after Albert Leo Schlageter
. At the end of World War II
on 20 March 1945 the bridge was blown up by the German army. After the war, temporary bridges were built over the Rhine River connecting the railway in July 1946 and for the road in December 1948.
Bridge in 1967. A separate S-Bahn bridge was built directly next to the railway bridge between 1997 and 1999. It is an arch bridge.
Mannheim
Mannheim is a city in southwestern Germany. With about 315,000 inhabitants, Mannheim is the second-largest city in the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg, following the capital city of Stuttgart....
and Ludwigshafen am Rhein
Ludwigshafen am Rhein
Ludwigshafen am Rhein is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Ludwigshafen is located on the Rhine opposite Mannheim. Together with Mannheim, Heidelberg and the surrounding region, it forms the Rhine Neckar Area....
. The other bridge is the Kurt Schumacher Bridge.
The road bridge connects a network of roads from behind Mannheim Palace
Mannheim Palace
Mannheim Palace is a large Baroque palace in Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was originally the main residence of the Prince-electors of the Electoral Palatinate...
across the Rhine to Ludwigshafen. It carries Federal Highway 37 and a tram track. Two rail bridges are adjacent to the road bridge, carrying the Palatine Ludwig Railway and the Rhine-Neckar S-Bahn line.
History
In 1669, the Elector Charles LouisCharles I Louis, Elector Palatine
Charles Louis, , Elector Palatine KG was the second son of Frederick V of the Palatinate, the "Winter King" of Bohemia, and his wife, Princess Elizabeth, daughter of King James I of England ....
built a floating bridge, which consisted of a platform secured to two barges anchored in the Rhine. In 1705 this bridge was replaced by a pontoon bridge that had to be rebuilt as a result of flood damage.
In the age of industrialisation and the railway, it became increasingly important by 1863 to build a fixed bridge at the site of the pontoon bridge. The bridge was designed in 1863 and 1864. The first chairman of the planning commission was Paul Camille von Denis
Paul Camille von Denis
Paul Camille Denis, later von Denis, was an engineer, railway pioneer and participant in the Hambach Festival, the German political protest of 1832....
. The combined road and rail bridge was built between 1865 and 1868. Impressive portal buildings, designed by the Karlsruhe architect Josef Durm, were built at the ends of the bridge. A sculpture of Minerva with industry and trade made by Karl Friedrich Moest was erected on the railway bridge.
The bridges themselves were built as 10 metre high steel trusses. Their total length was about 270 metres, the railway bridge was 7.5 metres wide and the road bridge was 6.5 metres wide. On each side there was a 1.8 metre-wide footpaths. By 1906 the bridge was found to be too narrow. It took until 1928 to begin planning an upgrade of the bridge. A new railway bridge was built directly beside the existing bridge in 1931 and 1932. The old railway bridge was converted for road traffic. The new bridge was also built with a steel framework, but without arches. In 1936 the bridge was named by the Nazis after Albert Leo Schlageter
Albert Leo Schlageter
Albert Leo Schlageter was a member of the German Freikorps. His activities sabotaging French occupying troops after World War I led to his arrest and eventual execution by French forces. His death created an image of martyrdom around him, which was cultivated by German nationalist groups, in...
. At the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
on 20 March 1945 the bridge was blown up by the German army. After the war, temporary bridges were built over the Rhine River connecting the railway in July 1946 and for the road in December 1948.
Konrad Adenauer Bridge
The road bridge was rebuilt between 1956 and 1959 and opened on 24 October 1959 under the name "Rhine Bridge". It was named the Konrad AdenauerKonrad Adenauer
Konrad Hermann Joseph Adenauer was a German statesman. He was the chancellor of the West Germany from 1949 to 1963. He is widely recognised as a person who led his country from the ruins of World War II to a powerful and prosperous nation that had forged close relations with old enemies France,...
Bridge in 1967. A separate S-Bahn bridge was built directly next to the railway bridge between 1997 and 1999. It is an arch bridge.
Specifications
- Railway bridge
- 1955 railway bridge
- Type: steel truss bridge
- Length: 273.9 m
- Span: 3 x 91.3 m
- Height: 10 m
- 2000 railway bridge
- Type: arch bridge
- Length: 273.9 m
- Span: 3 x 91.3 m
- Height: 20 m
- Road bridge
- Type: girder bridge
- Length: 273.9 m
- Span: 3 x 91.3 m
- Width: 30.2 m