A railway bridge like in a picture book. That is the Ruhrviadukt Witten. It spans the Ruhr valley near Witten with its 20 arches. Three of these arches are made of steel.
This impressive structure links the railway lines on either side of the Ruhr. The 600-meter-long arched bridge with a top road was constructed between 1913 and 1916. It was part of the planned railway line from Witten to Schwelm.
Look at the three steel lattice arches. They cross Wetterstraße, Mühlengraben and Ruhrdeich. These arches interrupt the smooth line of the 17 sandstone arches. Notice the long supporting wall at Wetterstraße and Gasstraße. It is also faced with sandstone.
At the time, the Ruhrviadukt Witten was not considered a new approach to bridge construction. The long interval between construction and commissioning led to speculation. People wondered about constructional defects. However, these concerns were never substantiated. According to recent findings, the slanted arches were built by the Dortmund-based steel engineering company August Klönne. This was part of a barter transaction.
The completion of the railway line was delayed. This was due to World War I and the French occupation of the Ruhr in 1923/24. In 1926, the Ruhrviadukt Witten was finally opened. It was used for goods traffic. The route ran from Witten West now Witten Hbf to Wengern Ost and the Hagen-Vorhalle marshalling yard. On May 14, 1934, the Witten–Schwelm line was opened.
After only 45 years of service, the Schwelm line was abandoned in 1979. In 1986, passenger traffic ended on the Witten Hbf – Wengen Ost – Hagen Hbf line. Since then, only goods trains regularly use the Ruhrviadukt Witten. Occasionally, rerouted passenger trains, including ICEs, can be seen.
The best spot for train spotters is the Bergerdenkmal on Hohenstein. It is a panorama of the Route der Industriekultur. From here, you have a great view of the Ruhr valley. You can see the Ruhrviadukt Witten. Also, you can view the Bergisch-Märkische Eisenbahn railway line between Wetter and Witten.
The construction of the Ruhrviadukt Witten cost about 22.7 million marks. That is around 83 million euros today. During the planning phase, the bridge faced opposition from the public. They feared it would spoil the landscape. The protests led to the structure being clad with natural stone.
Shortly before the end of World War II, some railway workers prevented the bridge from being blown up. Today, only goods trains travel over the Ruhrviadukt Witten between Witten and Hagen. The line to Schwelm has been closed since 1983. Regular passenger services between Witten and Hagen-Vorhalle stopped in 1986. Passenger trains still use the viaduct sometimes when the line between Witten and Hagen is closed for construction.
On the Witten north side, the Ruhrviadukt Witten ends with three steel arches. There are various explanations for this. Newer research suggests the steel arches were built by Aug. Klönne. This was a compensation deal after a change to the original plan.
The Ruhrviadukt Witten stands as a testament to engineering. It is also a reminder of the region’s industrial past. It is a picturesque landmark in the Ruhr valley.