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Leipzig's new Nahlesteg: dispute over width costs millions!
In Leipzig, the Nahlesteg between Möckern and Leutzsch was opened after almost two years of construction to offer pedestrians and cyclists better access.
Leipzig's new Nahlesteg: dispute over width costs millions!
In Leipzig, the long-awaited Nahlesteg between Möckern and Leutzsch was opened after almost two years of construction. The city invested a total of 5.2 million euros in this new building, which will now serve as an important crossing over the Nahle for pedestrians and cyclists. The old reinforced concrete footbridge from 1962 was badly damaged and was demolished to make room for a modern, pillarless structure. This special design allows the river to flow without obstacles and significantly improves flood protection. That's what she reported LVZ.
The bridge was originally planned to be 4.34 meters wide, but a dispute in the city council led to a change in the plans. The Greens, the Left and the SPD called for a wider bridge to create more space for pedestrians and cyclists. This request was heard in January 2022, and the bridge was ultimately designed to be 4 meters wide. As a result, costs had risen to 5.2 million euros, an increase of 2.2 million euros compared to the originally calculated 3 million euros. The start of construction was delayed by a year and became a reality in October 2023, but had to be repeatedly interrupted by delivery bottlenecks and seasonal restrictions, such as L-IZ informed.
Construction stories and challenges
The construction work for the Nahlesteg was not only financially challenging, but also technically complex. The work had to be interrupted during the fishing season until the end of June 2024, which meant additional delays. Two special cranes were used to move the heavy bridge sections, each weighing 25 to 27 tonnes, into position. Despite the extensive construction activities, no trees were felled in the protected riparian forest, which is classified as a landscape protection, bird protection and FFH area. Compensations for environmental protection were also taken into account in the planning.
With a total length of 50 meters and a maximum height of 5.50 meters, the new bridge meets all modern requirements. What is particularly noteworthy is that the entire construction was designed without pillars, which not only improves the aesthetics, but also ensures the permeability of the water for flood events. The temporary bridge used during construction is scheduled to be dismantled by mid-August 2024. The Nahlesteg is the last of its kind in Leipzig, while two other bridge projects are on hold due to the current budget crisis.