More bridges face shutdown: Wondering which ones could be next? - Another bridge blockade: How numerous are the affected?
Closure of Another Hessen Bridge: Worries Rise over Neglected Infrastructure
Increasing concerns surround the state of bridges in Hessen, Germany, as another structure has been closed due to an imminent collapse risk. The latest incident affected both a road and a railway line in the Odenwald region, prompting questions about the number of bridges facing such situations.
The condition of bridges in Hessen is a complex matter, with responsibility split among the federal government, state, and county authorities, and the German Railways. To shed light on the matter, the German Press Agency exclusively analyzed data from the Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt).
According to this analysis, Hessen ranks second among German states for the highest number of poorly rated federal highways. The state has 19 bridge structures in this category, with condition notes of 3.3 or worse. North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) tops the list with 21 such structures.
The Federal Highway Research Institute categorizes structures based on the extent of acute damage and signs of wear. A rating of 3.5 to 4.0 indicates an inadequate condition, while a rating of 3.0 to 3.4 denotes a not sufficient condition. Some of the poorly rated federal highways in Hessen include the Lemptal Bridge near Ehringshausen, the Tal Bridge Bechlingen near Aßlar, and the Thalaubachtal Bridge near Thalau.
When it comes to bridges on federal, state, and county roads, a spokesperson for Hessen's Ministry of Transport reported that, in general, their condition is "good." They cited around 5,400 such bridge structures in Hessen, with 235 requiring repair in the short to medium term.
The railway company, however, is significantly investing in its infrastructure, with additional investments planned in the future due to a high technical renewal requirement. All 2,122 railway bridges in Hessen are routinely inspected, including the second-oldest railway bridge in Germany, the Nied Railway Bridge, which was last renovated in 2008.
At the end of April, the Talbrücke near Zell, a district of Bad König, was closed in both directions following an inspection. The Autobahn GmbH announced that the bridge must be demolished due to the statistics of the bridge structure. The closure also affected the Odenwald Railway, with trains no longer allowed to pass under the bridge. In its place, buses have been running between the Groß-Umstädter district of Wiebelsbach and Erbach.
Travelers must now take a 20-kilometer detour, which has caused frustration among locals. The situation echoes a similar incident in 2021 when concrete chunks fell from the Salzbachtalbrücke in Wiesbaden, triggering a closure of the federal road and surrounding railway lines—effectively cutting the state capital off from the outside world.
With half a trillion euros planned for infrastructure improvement and climate protection over the next twelve years, there is hope for addressing the State's bridge issues. However, specific data on the number of bridges rated as poor or detailed condition assessments on different road categories in Hessen remains unavailable. Consulting official reports from Hessen's Ministry of Transport or the Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport (Bundesministerium für Digitales und Verkehr) would be necessary for precise figures.
Tags: - Hesse - Infrastructure - Odenwald - Wiesbaden - Collapse danger - Frankfurt - Bad König - German Railway - German Press Agency - North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) - County road - Railway bridge.
- In light of the concerns over the state of bridges in Hessen, it might be beneficial to consider launching a community policy that emphasizes regular vocational training for infrastructure engineers, ensuring they are up-to-date with the latest science and medical-conditions related to bridge safety and health-and-wellness.
- As the health of the bridge infrastructure in Hessen continues to be a topic of general-news, it is important to invest not only in the immediate repair and renewal of bridges but also in researching innovative and sustainable solutions for the transport sector, thereby contributing to the broader field of science.
