“Psst! Did you know this bridge is not just a bridge?” Today, we’re at Wehr 1. It’s a weir in Vienna’s Neue Donau, or New Danube. Wehr 1 offers passage for pedestrians and cyclists to Donauinsel. Donauinsel is Danube Island.
Wehr 1 was built from 1976 to 1978. Think of the disco era. The Bee Gees ruled the radio then. Construction workers were building Wehr 1.
Wehr 1 helps control the water level of the New Danube. It has five sections. Each section is 25 meters wide. Wehr 1 is a fixed system. It usually stays put unlike weirs at power plants. Wehr 1’s gates use hydraulic power. They have fixed overflow caps.
During construction, workers found a fault line. They had to shift the weir’s axis. Imagine the surprise. They were digging and hit a geological hiccup.
Now, for a twist. Since 2016, Wehr 1 has a hidden secret. It has an underground hydroelectric power plant. Wien Energie and MA 45, Vienna Waters, teamed up. This plant makes about 45 kW. It powers about 130 homes. The plant uses an Archimedes’ screw. It’s like a giant snail shell turning water into power. The screw is 15 meters long. It is 3.20 meters in diameter. It turns 25 times a minute. The power plant started in June 2017.
So, Wehr 1 is more than just a weir. It is a bridge, a water regulator, and a power plant. It shows how Vienna blends nature and technology. Next time you cross Wehr 1, remember its hidden depths.