Germany – Construction work – Brückenschlag für Hamburg - Planungs- und Bauleistungen für Brückenbau

The Freihafenelbbrücke (FHEB) was damaged by a ship collision on 28.10.2025. Subsequent investigations and checks by the HPA have shown that the bridge cannot be repaired on site, can no longer be used safely and that the middle section must be removed as soon as possible. The road including footpath and cycle path and the middle ship passage are closed. During the same period, inspections of various structures along the Neue Elbbrücken (B4/B75) route revealed that these structures are in worse condition than previous inspections had indicated. This means that in the coming years, various significant restrictions on these route structures are to be expected for repair and upgrading work. The temporal overlap with the consequences of the ship collision and the observable traffic impacts create a particular temporal urgency for a remedy. Closures in the area of the Neue Elbbrücken lead to significantly reduced traffic capacities, which over a multi-year period at relevant times of day lead to traffic conditions that are unacceptable for both commuter and Hamburg port traffic. To remedy the situation, it is planned to erect a bridge train immediately west of the Neue Elbbrücken. The bridge is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2027. The subject of this tender is the construction and integrated planning of a bridge train over the Norderelbe in Hamburg. To ensure quick construction of the bridge train, bridge equipment for military infrastructure and civil defence will be used. The bridge train will be designed as a single-span bridge chain of D-bridges and S-bridges, depending on the required span. These bridge elements will be leased by the contracting authority from the Federal Government. A contractor is sought who will take over and continue the ongoing planning in the design planning stage (Stage 1 of the contract) and, following a decision by the Hamburg Citizens' Assembly, is expected to start construction work on a temporary bridge in October 2026 (Stage 2 of the contract) and complete it by the end of 2027. The bridge train runs immediately west of the Neue Elbbrücken route and serves as a replacement route for road and foot/cycle path traffic in the Norderelbe crossing area. According to current planning, the total length of the bridge train is around 500 to 600 m. Of this, approx. 400 m is for the crossing of the Norderelbe; additional bridge structures may be required in the connecting areas. The span widths vary between 15.25 metres and a maximum of 70.00 metres. The traffic cross-section of the bridge train has a total usable width of 7.50 metres. Of this, 6.00 metres are for the carriageway, consisting of a 3.25-metre wide lorry lane and a 2.75-metre wide car lane. Additionally, a pedestrian and cycle path console with a usable width of 1.50 metres is provided. The planned service life of the bridge is approximately ten years. For the support of the bridge, substructures are required, which, due to the limited span width, do not lie in the grid of the existing supports of the "Neue Elbbrücke". The substructures of the bridge will be designed in a delicate manner with inclined and partially exposed piles with a high pile head beam. This construction requires protective and guiding devices along the ship passages. Special static-constructive guiding structures are provided below the existing Neue Elbbrücken for this purpose, as the installation of piles is only possible with considerable difficulties due to the very limited construction height there. The services for maintenance, care and testing of the bridge according to the guideline for military infrastructure and civil defence in road and civil engineering part 5 section 4 are also the subject of the invitation to tender.