“Steel and stone, reaching across the water!” I present to you the Hafenbrücke in Dresden. This bridge is also known as Brücke am Alberthafen. It stands as a testament to Dresden’s industrial past and its continuing importance as a transport hub.
The Hafenbrücke arches over the entrance to the Alberthafen. The bridge actually consists of two parallel bridges. One is a road bridge and the other is a railway bridge. The road bridge carries Fußgänger, cars and cyclists. The Elberadweg, or Elbe Cycle Route, also runs over it. The railway bridge is part of the Hafenbahn Dresden. It leads to the loading tracks north of the harbour basin.
Claus Koepcke designed this bridge. He also designed the Blaues Wunder a few years earlier. The Hafenbrücke was completed in 1894. These bridges made it harder for ships to enter the Alberthafen, especially when the Elbe’s water level was high. The railway bridge is even lower than the road bridge. In 2006 and 2007, they built a new roll-on-roll-off facility between the Hafen- and Flügelwegbrücke, directly on the Elbe.
The Hafenbrücke is a steel truss bridge. The roadway and tracks are located at the bottom of the structure. It is 10 meters high. The clearance height for vehicles is 4.85 meters. The bridge spans 77 meters. Its total area covers 858 square meters.
In 2015, the bridge served as the setting for an attempted murder in the TV show Tatort: Der König der Gosse. Between 2018 and 2020, the bridge was renovated. This was the first thorough renovation in its history. In 2013, the bridge had to be closed to cars and trucks. This was because it lacked sufficient load-bearing capacity. During the investigation before the renovation, they found paint residue from 1893. The bridge was repainted in that light blue hue. The renovation cost around 3.5 million euros. The Free State of Saxony provided 90 percent of the funding.
This bridge is more than just a crossing. The Hafenbrücke is a symbol of Dresden’s resilience. It is a reminder of the city’s commitment to preserving its history. As you cross the Hafenbrücke, take a moment to appreciate its blend of form and function. Consider its role in Dresden’s story.