Bridge near Straubing: New cycle path strengthens traffic safety!

Bridge near Straubing: New cycle path strengthens traffic safety!

The Xaver Hafner Bridge in Straubing has received a modern upgrade! To meet increasing traffic demands, this bridge, built in the late 1980s, underwent a major reconstruction. The client, the Straubing-Bogen district office, has equipped the bridge with a new 2.50 meter wide sidewalk and cycle path to increase traffic safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Retrofitting without overloading the existing box girder bridge over the Danube with additional loads posed a real challenge Construction links reported.

Originally designed for motorized traffic, the need to expand the cycle path network was particularly recognized. Long considerations led to the decision that expanding the bridge outwards was not possible due to the static conditions - it is stretched in the transverse direction. An innovative solution was therefore decided: the roadway was narrowed by 50 centimeters between 2022 and 2023 and moved to the middle of the bridge. In addition, the cornice head was widened from 35 to 50 centimeters to create enough space for the new path.

Efficient choice of materials

A special building material was used for the conversion: Liapor lightweight concrete, which has around 35% less weight than conventional concrete. This not only makes it easy to handle, but also ensures an enormous compressive strength of up to 33 N/mm². The frost- and de-icing salt-resistant and corrosion-resistant Liapor lightweight concrete was applied between 16 and 25 cm thick and structured after installation - using a broom brush to create a slip-resistant surface. The approximately 500 m³ of the innovative material were delivered by Heidelberg Materials from the Burglengenfeld plant, while the extensive implementation was carried out by Geiger Bauwerksanierung GmbH & Co. KG from Warngau Liapor.

Liapor lightweight concrete is not only light in weight and high in strength, but also offers creative freedom in bridge construction, as the company emphasizes. It can be poured or pumped, which enables quick and easy processing. In addition, there are clear advantages when expanding, so that no compromises have to be made when it comes to static safety.

The context of bridge building

The need for such conversions is essential given the increasing volume of traffic on German roads. More and more bridges are heavily used and at the same time have to meet modern requirements. This is not only a challenge, but also requires strengthening measures and seamless monitoring to ensure sustainability and safety. The publication “Reinforced Concrete Construction Focus: Bridge Construction” addresses these aspects and offers insights into current developments as well as new standards that are important for engineers DIN Media.

In this book, civil engineers will find comprehensive information on various facets of bridge construction, from prestressed concrete bridges to vehicle restraint systems to dismantling processes. It offers valuable examples and practical solutions for everyone involved in the construction industry. The new Xaver Hafner Bridge impressively demonstrates how the challenges of bridge construction can be met with innovative materials and clever solutions!