“Another bridge to cross,” a Roman legionary might have muttered almost two millennia ago, standing near where the Kostheimer Brücke now stands. This bridge before you is more than steel and concrete. It echoes with centuries of history.
The Kostheimer Brücke connects Mainz-Kostheim and Ginsheim-Gustavsburg. It carries Bundesstraße 43. On the Kostheim side, it’s Hauptstraße. On the Gustavsburg side, it’s Darmstädter Landstraße.
Imagine the year 374 AD. Roman Emperor Valentinian I ordered a bridge built here. Dendrochronology dated the bridge timbers. The remains are visible during extreme low water. Look about 200 meters west.
Centuries passed after the Roman bridge fell. A ferry was the only connection. Locals yearned for a bridge again.
Fast forward to 1887. The first “modern” Kostheimer Brücke opened. MAN-Werk Gustavsburg built it. Philipp Holzmann & Cie handled the foundation. It used impressive Senkkasten-Gründung. Ferry operators feared for their business. They were anxious about losing their income.
The original bridge had Fachwerk-Bogenträgern. It stood strong until World War II. The war brought destruction.
In 1947, the Kostheimer Brücke was rebuilt. It had a simpler Warren-Fachwerk design. This is what you see today.
The Kostheimer Brücke is the last Main bridge before the Rhine. It stands at Mainkilometer 1.330. Its clearance is 6.7 meters above HSW. The bridge is part of the Route der Industriekultur Rhein-Main Mainspitze.
Runners know the Kostheimer Brücke well. It’s part of the “Drei-Brücken-Lauf.” The other bridges are Theodor-Heuss-Brücke and Südbrücke.
Hessen Mobil plans to rebuild the Kostheimer Brücke. The increasing traffic demands it. The estimated construction cost is around 30 million euros.
There is talk of making the bridge a cultural monument. The Landesamt für Denkmalpflege Hessen is considering it.
In 2023, extensive renovations occurred. Corrosion protection was applied to all steel parts. This included the Gustavsburg Vorlandbrücke, the Strombrücke, and the Kostheimer Vorlandbrücke. The Vorlandbrücken’s caps were replaced. The Strombrücke’s concrete was repaired. Sealings and pavements were completely renewed.
As you stand here, think of the past. Romans, ferry operators, and engineers. The Kostheimer Brücke has seen it all. It stands as a testament to connection and progress. It is a bridge between communities and eras.