Picture the Rammrathbrücke. A seemingly simple bridge. Yet its story spans decades of change. This bridge isn’t just a passage over the Teltowkanal. It’s a silent witness to history. It connects Teltow and Kleinmachnow. This small span of concrete and steel is more significant than it appears.
The first Rammrathbrücke opened in 1904. It was a steel structure. It served the growing traffic between the two towns. The bridge was designed ingeniously. Its pillars were set back from the canal’s edge. This allowed space for the towpath’s tracks. Sadly World War II destroyed it. A temporary wooden bridge replaced it around 1950. This makeshift structure served until a more permanent solution was built.
The second Rammrathbrücke. This arose in 1977. A single-span steel structure it was. It boasted a span of 36.6 meters. Its width a generous 12.5 meters. The bridge was built to last. It used corrosion-resistant steel. Two strong main girders supported an orthotropic deck plate. The foundations were solid reinforced concrete. Even the remaining wooden piles from the 1904 bridge were removed. They were cut a meter below the new foundation.
But even this impressive structure had its limits. By 2006 the Rammrathbrücke showed its age. Inspectors from Krebs+Kiefer found corrosion. Cracks riddled the road and pavement. Expansion joints were failing. The bearings were damaged and rusted. Worse yet alkali-silica reaction had begun. The so-called concrete cancer. Repair was not feasible. A complete replacement was recommended. The cost was estimated at 5.55 million Euros.
Demolition began in March 2020. The old bridge was removed carefully. The Teltowkanal closed for 24 hours to ensure safety. Then the old abutments came down. New steel sheet piling replaced the old canal walls. The new bridge construction began. Twenty bored piles formed the foundation for the new abutments. Each pile was 24 meters long. They held 28 cubic meters of concrete.
Teltow city gave up on widening the bridge. Thus the federal government fully funded the project. The new bridge features combined walkways and bike paths. This increases safety for cyclists. The new bridge is a seamless design. Two steel hollow boxes support a concrete deck. There are no bearings or joints. The steel boxes connect rigidly to the abutments. This design offers low costs and a comfortable ride.
The two 97-ton main girders arrived from Donges Steeltec in Darmstadt. They were lifted into place. On June 24 2021 the new Rammrathbrücke opened. The Rammrathbrücke stands tall. A testament to engineering and perseverance. It serves as a vital link. A silent guardian over the Teltowkanal. And a reminder of the constant cycle of creation and renewal. Named after Franz Rammrath a Wilmersdorf council member. He served on the Teltowkanal building commission. His legacy lives on. In this bridge that bears his name.