Overview
The Konrad Adenauer Bridge (in German: Konrad-Adenauer-Brücke) is one of two road bridges crossing the Rhine between the German cities of Mannheim and Ludwigshafen am Rhein. The other bridge is the Kurt Schumacher Bridge. The road bridge connects a network of roads from behind Mannheim Palace across the Rhine to Ludwigshafen. It carries Federal Highway 37 and a tram track. Two rail bridges are adjacent to the road bridge, carrying the Palatine Ludwig Railway and the Rhine-Neckar S-Bahn line.
History
In 1669, the Elector Charles Louis built a floating bridge, which consisted of a platform secured to two barges anchored in the Rhine. In 1705 this bridge was replaced by a pontoon bridge that had to be rebuilt as a result of flood damage. The combined road and rail bridge was built between 1865 and 1868. Impressive portal buildings, designed by the Karlsruhe architect Josef Durm, were built at the ends of the bridge. A sculpture of Minerva with industry and trade made by Karl Friedrich Moest was erected on the railway bridge. The bridges themselves were built as steel trusses. Their total length was about 270 metres, the railway bridge was 7.5 metres wide and the road bridge was 6.5 metres wide. On each side there was a footpath. At the end of World War II on 20 March 1945 the bridge was blown up by the German army.
After the war, temporary bridges were built over the Rhine River connecting the railway in July 1946 and for the road in December 1948.
Konrad Adenauer Bridge
The road bridge was rebuilt between 1956 and 1959 and opened on 24 October 1959 under the name "Rhine Bridge". It was named the Konrad Adenauer Bridge in 1967. A separate S-Bahn bridge was built directly next to the railway bridge between 1997 and 1999. It is an arch bridge.
Specifications
*Railway bridge *1955 railway bridge **Type: steel truss bridge **Length: 273.9 m **Span: 3 x 91.3 m **Height: 10 m *2000 railway bridge **Type: arch bridge **Length: 273.9 m **Span: 3 x 91.3 m **Height: 20 m *Road bridge **Type: girder bridge **Length: 273.9 m **Span: 3 x 91.3 m **Width: 30.2 m
References
*Mannheim und seine Bauten 1907–2007; 5 volumes. Mannheim 2000–2007