Did you know the Rheinbrücke Maxau isn’t just one bridge? It is a set of parallel structures connecting Karlsruhe and Wörth. These bridges span the Rhine River. They facilitate both road and rail traffic.
Let’s dive into the story of the Rheinbrücke Maxau. The name Maxau comes from the Hofgut Maxau estate. Maximilian von Baden established it. He was the younger son of Charles Frederick. He was the Grand Duke of Baden.
Today, the Rheinbrücke Maxau consists of two main bridges. One is for road traffic. The other is for rail. The road bridge carries Federal Highway 10. It links the Wörth interchange with Karlsruhe’s urban freeway. This freeway connects to Autobahn 5. A 2005 survey showed about 78500 vehicles use the bridge daily. This makes it a significant traffic bottleneck.
Wilhelm Tiedje designed the road bridge. It is a cable-stayed bridge. It stretches 292 meters long. A 48-meter-high pylon supports the bridge. The pylon divides it into sections of 175 and 117 meters. The bridge is 35.30 meters wide. It accommodates six lanes, footpaths and bicycle lanes. It opened in December 1966.
The rail bridge is just south of the road bridge. It carries the Winden-Karlsruhe railway. The Rheinbrücke Maxau rail bridge opened on April 29, 1991 as a single-track bridge. In 2000, it was upgraded with a second track. This second track became operational on May 12, 2000. Each section is 292 meters long. They rest on a central pillar. Like the road bridge, it has asymmetric sections of 117 and 175 meters.
The current Rheinbrücke Maxau isn’t the first crossing at this location. Since 1840, there have been six bridges here. The first was a pontoon bridge. It opened on August 25, 1840. It was for road traffic. It had 34 hulls supporting the road. It was 276 meters long. Its load capacity was 4 tons.
In 1862, the Maxau Railway’s construction necessitated a new bridge. This bridge connected the Maxau Railway to the Palatine Maximilian Railway. It was the first mixed railway and road pontoon bridge in Europe. It won a gold medal at the 1867 Paris International Exposition. This bridge was 363 meters long. It had 34 pontoons. It could handle trains with special light locomotives.
By the 1930s, a fixed bridge was needed. It was inaugurated in 1938. It had a central pillar and steel truss construction. This Rheinbrücke Maxau was damaged during World War II in 1945. An artillery grenade triggered its demolition.
After the 1938 bridge’s destruction, temporary bridges were built. The French armed forces constructed a pontoon bridge. Later, a wooden bridge was added for the railway. In 1947, a new bridge was built. It was a long-term replacement. This bridge had five spans.
By 1987, a major shipwreck occurred. A vessel rammed a pier. This interrupted both rail and river traffic for weeks. Due to increasing traffic and the need to rehabilitate the 1966 bridge, plans for a second road bridge have been in discussion for years. The Federal Court of Audit even examined the necessity of a second bridge.
The Rheinbrücke Maxau stands as a vital connection point. It has a rich history. It continues to evolve to meet modern transportation demands. Its story reflects the changing needs of Karlsruhe and Wörth.