Massive Undertaking
The city of Düsseldorf has announced plans to replace the aging Theodor-Heuss-Bridge, a key part of federal road B7, which carries approximately 78,600 vehicles daily, including around 3,000 trucks. The decision to replace the bridge, built in 1957, comes as part of a larger initiative to modernise major projects in the city.
The city council has allocated a total of 22.2 million euros for the project, with preparations for the new bridge, including planning and construction groundwork, already underway. The city's subsidiary IPM (Immobilien Projekt Management Düsseldorf GmbH) is in charge of managing these tasks.
The new construction offers an opportunity, particularly for reducing heavy traffic within the city, according to Petra Sander, a campaigner for the project. Cities like Paris are opting for concepts against too much car traffic, she suggested.
However, the news has sparked concern among residents in Golzheim, an adjacent district to the bridge's east bank. A residents' initiative, "Save Golzheim!", has collected several thousand signatures, fearing that a wider bridge design, the possible construction of a tram track, and the resumption of heavy truck traffic would have major negative impacts on the living and recreational quality in Golzheim, especially in the Rheinpark.
The city administration is now authorized to make fundamental preparations for both planning and construction of the bridge, including the construction survey and ground investigation. Tender documents for the preliminary investigation and preliminary planning need to be prepared.
The city council will decide on the bridge cross-section and further planning steps in a subsequent step. The aim is to allow a tram to cross the bridge by the end of the first quarter of 2026. However, no explicit mention of tram line or tram crossing plans on the new Theodor-Heuss-Bridge has been made yet, and these may be decided later.
The residents' initiative has expressed concern that the architecture of the listed brick buildings on Uerdinger Street would be overshadowed. Angela Hussla, a member of the initiative, has voiced her worry.
The Finance Department, led by City Treasurer Dorothee Schneider, is now in charge of the project. The construction work will be carried out by IPM, the city's in-house company specializing in large-scale construction. The project has been transferred to a new structure, matching the scale and significance of other major Düsseldorf projects.
As the project progresses, further details, including precise impact assessments on Golzheim residents and tram infrastructure, are expected to emerge. The city council will make decisions on these matters in the coming months.
The Finance Department, overseen by City Treasurer Dorothee Schneider, has taken charge of the Theodor-Heuss-Bridge project, a multi-million euro business endeavor for the city of Düsseldorf. As part of the project, the city's subsidiary IPM (Immobilien Projekt Management Düsseldorf GmbH) will manage construction tasks related to the replacement of the aging bridge.
