Ziegelhäuser Bridge in Heidelberg: New construction with preferred variant decided!

Ziegelhäuser Bridge in Heidelberg: New construction with preferred variant decided!

In Heidelberg, the Ziegelhäuser Bridge between Ziegelhausen and Schlierbach is about to be completely rebuilt. The structural condition of the bridge, which was built in 1954 as a prestressed concrete bridge, is critical. It has many defects that endanger its stability. Therefore, the decision to replace the bridge was made in 2022. According to current traffic figures, around 6,600 vehicles use the bridge every day. Since March 2020, only vehicles up to 3.5 tons have been permitted and speed limits have been set at 30 km/h to avoid additional damage. From 2020 onwards, the deformation behavior of the bridge was monitored electronically with a comprehensive statics test.

The city of Heidelberg has now developed four variants for the new construction of the bridge, which were presented during a presentation to the Ziegelhausen and Schlierbach district advisory councils at the end of May 2025. On July 1st, the urban development and building committee voted unanimously for the preferred option, which is to be finally confirmed by the local council on July 24th. This variant – the third – combines safe traffic routing with minimal interference with adjacent properties.

Planning and structural sampling

The planning for the new building became necessary because the load-bearing capacity of the old Ziegelhäuser Bridge is impaired, which is pushing the city to move forward with the planning and construction process quickly. As part of the structural testing - which will take place from July 21 to August 3, 2025 - the bridge will be completely closed to motorized traffic. However, cyclists, pedestrians and public transport can still use the bridge, while diversions via the Theodor Heuss Bridge and the Friedensbrücke are signposted. In order to make the construction work possible, the full closure will be lifted during the Heidelberg Triathlon on July 27th.

In addition to the planning, the existing bridge will be supported with various safety measures until the new one is built. These include reinforcement of the underside of the bridge, comprehensive repairs of concrete elements and the installation of safety nets. In total, costs of around 1.3 million euros have already been incurred for the previous safety measures, which are important in order to keep the bridge functional until the replacement construction is completed. Unfortunately, the bridge will probably no longer be usable by 2029 at the latest, which illustrates the urgency of the measures.

Background to the bridge situation in Germany

The situation is not only worrying in Heidelberg. According to the German Association of Cities and Municipalities, municipalities have an investment backlog of around 126 billion euros, which also affects the maintenance of bridges. The need for structural inspections is of great importance for the safety and preservation of municipal infrastructure, as Norbert Portz, representative of the DStGB, emphasizes. In order to detect damage early, preventative measures are essential when planning and maintaining bridges. A lack of funds for maintenance measures represents a major challenge, which is why the new federal government is being asked to support the municipalities.

MRN News reports that the preliminary design planning for the new construction of the bridge has already been completed. According to a study using the Heidelberg traffic model, the new building at the existing location is the most suitable solution for handling traffic flows in the region. When evaluating the four variants, the third is clearly in the foreground. It not only offers safety, but also practical advantages during the construction period.

The hope for residents and commuters remains that the new building will not only relieve congestion on the road, but also set a good example of modern transport infrastructure. Citizens can look forward to the local council's final decision and the upcoming developments around the Ziegelhäuser Bridge.