Sixty years ago, this bridge was just a construction. Now, it carries a heavy name. We are standing at the Kennedybrücke. It crosses the Alster River in Hamburg. This bridge runs parallel to the Lombardsbrücke.
In 1953, the Neue Lombardsbrücke was built. It was north of the old Lombardsbrücke. The old bridge could not handle the increasing traffic. Bernhard Hermkes designed the new bridge. It had a main span of 94 meters. The bridge opened on April 30, 1953. Theodor Heuss attended the opening.
The Museum für Hamburgische Geschichte has a golden pair of scissors. These scissors cut the ribbon at the bridge’s opening. Wilhelm Weber Inh. Günter Mainz Hamburg donated them in 1953.
Only three days after the Dallas assassination, Hamburg’s Senate made a decision. They renamed the bridge to Kennedybrücke. This honored John F. Kennedy. He was the assassinated president.
On the Kennedybrücke’s north sidewalk, there is a marker. It shows the 10° meridian. South of the bridge is the Tiefbunker Kennedybrücke. This is a deep bunker.
In 2013, 50,000 vehicles crossed the Kennedybrücke daily. Four percent of these were heavy goods vehicles.
The Kennedybrücke and Lombardsbrücke are important. They serve local and regional traffic. The Kennedybrücke was designed carefully. It does not disturb the view of Jungfernstieg and the Außenalster. It also preserves the unique cityscape with the Lombardsbrücke. Today, the Kennedybrücke hides elegantly behind the Lombardsbrücke. It is a testament to Hamburg’s history. It honors a president and carries the pulse of city life.