Can you imagine Würzburg without a crucial link between the inner city and the Frauenland district? That is the story of the Siligmüllerbrücke. For years, it was not passable. Now, let me tell you its story.
The Siligmüllerbrücke is a road bridge. It spans the railway lines from Würzburg to Treuchtlingen and Stuttgart. The bridge connects Siligmüllerstraße and Konradstraße with the southern city ring. The city ring is near the intersection of Salvatorstraße and B19.
The original Siligmüllerbrücke was built in 1969 for 750,000 euros. Sadly, it was closed to traffic in 1995. Structural defects forced its closure. The old bridge was 190 meters long. It overcame a height difference of 12 meters. Up to 25,000 vehicles used it daily. It was a vital link between Schweinfurter Straße and Frauenland. The Greinbergknoten interchange reduced its importance after its construction in 1993. But, the bridge still carried traffic between Berliner Ring and Frauenland.
Plans to build a pedestrian and bicycle bridge were scrapped in 2007. Instead, plans for a new bridge were presented. The old bridge was demolished in late 2008 and early 2009. No acute risk of collapse existed. However, repairs were too expensive due to significant defects. The demolition cost about one million euros. Only the abutments remained with fences for safety.
Initially, the scale of the new bridge was unclear. In 2007, estimates for a new bridge reached 4.6 million euros. Due to financial constraints, the city council repeatedly postponed the project. The necessity of the Siligmüllerbrücke was often debated. However, 180,000 euros were allocated for planning in the 2011 budget. This aimed to determine if the bridge was needed.
The new bridge became more concrete when the Rottendorfer Straße bridge needed repair. The Siligmüllerbrücke would serve as a replacement during its renovation. The bridge reconstruction was discussed again in November 2014. This discussion was about the 2015 budget. The city council decided against allocating funds. However, the project remained part of future traffic planning.
In November 2015, the environment and planning committee supported rebuilding the Siligmüllerbrücke. The city council scheduled a decision for December 3, 2015. They instructed the administration to create an object plan for the bridge’s construction.
Preparatory work for the new Siligmüllerbrücke began in summer 2018. Construction required coordination with train traffic, like the demolition.
The Johann-Sperl-Straße was removed in early 2019. This removal was part of the traffic reorganization. Since the Greinbergknoten opened in 1993, it had no traffic role. It was replaced by a two-way cycle path and a green walkway. Thirty new trees were planted. The cycle path connects routes 1 and 3. A new entrance to the main cemetery was also added. Steps connect the Siligmüllerbrücke to the walkway along the cemetery.
Construction on the Siligmüllerbrücke started on October 26, 2020. It included connecting areas in Konradstraße and Waltherstraße. Traffic was rerouted during construction. Additional closures were possible in Siligmüllerstraße and Konradstraße. The work was expected to finish by the end of 2022.
After about 25 years, a gap in Würzburg’s traffic network was closed. The engineering firm Maier and the construction company Züblin were in charge. The entire soil excavation was about 9,000 cubic meters. This could fill the Dallenbergbad swimming pool three times.
Three giant steel girders were installed over the railway tracks in November 2021. The railway line was closed for this work. The 40-meter-long girders weigh 50 tons each. They form the basis for the new Siligmüllerbrücke. The concrete supporting slab was poured on May 12, 2022. The planned completion in spring 2023 was achieved.
The Siligmüllerbrücke officially opened on May 3, 2023. Mayor Christian Schuchardt and city planning officer Benjamin Schneider cut the ribbon. The ribbon had the city colors of red and yellow. The mayor thanked the government of Lower Franconia for its financial support. About 65 percent of the ten million euro construction cost came from state funding.
The bridge is intended to improve traffic flow. It will take traffic from Frauenland and Hubland via Annastraße/Siligmüllerstraße and Salvatorstraße. This is especially important while the Rottendorfer Straße bridge is renovated. After the Rottendorfer Straße bridge is complete, both streets may become one-way. This would distribute traffic more evenly.
So as you cross this bridge. Remember the years of planning. Think of the challenges. Consider the benefits it brings to Würzburg. The Siligmüllerbrücke is more than just concrete and steel. It is a symbol of connectivity and progress.