“While replacing the superstructure is a significant investment—around 8 million euros—it is the better solution in the long term. This is the only option that allows us to access 4 million euros in state funding as well as an additional 4 million euros from the federal government’s special fund. These funds are not expected to be available in 20 years. With the new construction, we’ll improve traffic safety in a sustainable way and create a reliable foundation for the coming decades. This will benefit the residents of the district,” said District Administrator Dietmar Allgaier.
Ronald Stolz, head of the Roads Department at the District Office, explained why a renovation is not the best solution: It would likely extend the bridge’s service life by only 20 to 25 years. “In the long run, a complete replacement would therefore be unavoidable. Added to this is the risk that major damage to the supporting structure near the Neckar lock could be discovered during the renovation work. In that case, a partial rebuild might become necessary at short notice,” said Stolz.
Greater Load-Bearing Capacity and More Space on the Roadway
The new superstructure also offers an opportunity to improve the bridge’s functionality. For example, the total permissible load could increase from the current 24 metric tons to 40 metric tons in the future. In addition, a slight widening of the roadway would be possible. This would allow cars to pass each other more safely in the future.
Construction Period to Be Kept as Short as Possible
The municipality of Hessigheim and local business owners have requested that the construction period be kept as short as possible and that a ferry service be established during construction. The administration will examine various options for accelerating the construction work, Stolz explained. These include, for example, prefabricated construction methods and a six-day workweek at the construction site. According to experts, however, a ferry service would be neither economically viable nor reliable.
In the spring of 2027, a construction resolution with reliable cost estimates and plans ready for approval is to be presented to the committee.
