The 7.7 million euro new bridge construction at the Herkules Tunnel in Neuehrenfeld is scheduled to start in the second half of 2025. This was announced by a spokeswoman for the city of Cologne; the administration is currently looking for a general contractor.
The new construction over the city’s motorway is expected to take around twelve months; according to the tender, the period is planned from June 2025 to August 2026. The company is to use prefabricated components to save time. The bridge was originally supposed to be completed this year, but construction was repeatedly delayed.
According to its own statement, the city is aiming for a short construction period and minimal disruption to traffic, because: “Due to the location in the road network and the local conditions (including the six-lane K4 motorway feeder road, with a very high volume of traffic), the new bridge, including substructures, is to be planned and built using prefabricated construction.” The A57 motorway towards Krefeld begins north of the Hercules Tunnel.
25 meter wide bridge
When asked what this means for road users, the spokeswoman said: “Temporary partial and full closures will be necessary on Liebigstrasse and on the K4 motorway feeder road. Diversion routes will be signposted for all traffic flows affected by the new Liebigstrasse bridge.”
The city council released the money for the construction in November 2021. According to the documents, the 24.90-meter-wide bridge will first be demolished on one side so that traffic is affected as little as possible. Nevertheless, this will probably require a weekend each time, during which the city will completely close Herkulesstrasse.
Overview of the built-up street, on which a small park and two small bridges can be found.
Between 1974 and 1975, Herkulesstrasse was expanded to six lanes and enclosed for around 500 metres. There are two bridges on the “cover” that lead from east to west and vice versa: the bridge on Wöhlerstrasse and the one on Liebigstrasse. The bridge on Liebigstrasse is almost 25 metres wide and has two lanes and a turning lane, as well as cycle and pedestrian paths on both sides.
Bad grades for bridge
After almost 50 years, the administration wants to replace the bridge, but has decided against renovating it for economic reasons. Four years ago, the city had the bridge inspected, and the experts at the time rated the condition on a scale of zero to four as 3.3 to 3.4, which corresponds to a rating of “unsatisfactory”.
The range from 1.0 to 1.4 represents a very good condition, followed by several gradations, from 2.5 to 2.9 the condition is sufficient. This is followed by insufficient (3.0 to 3.4) and unsatisfactory (3.5 to 4.0).
Rhein-Energie is currently carrying out preparatory work on the bridge.
According to the Federal Ministry of Transport, the last two assessment categories require immediate repairs and ongoing maintenance because stability and traffic safety are at risk or are significantly at risk.
However, it is also stated elsewhere that a grade between 3.0 and 3.4 “does not necessarily mean a restriction on the use of the building”, but is an indicator to plan repairs.
Since July 16, Rhein-Energie has been relocating the gas and water pipes at this location. The road can only be used as a single lane at this point, and Rhein-Energie’s preparatory work for the new bridge is expected to be completed by the end of September.
