Cologne is planning two new bridges: Focus on cycling and foot traffic!

Cologne is planning two new bridges: Focus on cycling and foot traffic!

Cologne faces a new chapter of urban mobility. In the coming time, the city is planning two new Rheinbrücken, which are specially designed for pedestrians and cyclists. According to T-Online , the first bridge from Ubierringpark will lead to the Alfred-Schütte-Allee at the Deutzer Hafen The second bridge should enable the connection from the Bastei in the northern old town to the Rheinpark.

The transport committee will decide on these plans on March 18, 2024 before the financial committee and council have to give their blessings for the planning process. The two bridges are part of a larger urban planning master plan that has existed since 2009. This is intended to improve the connection between the western and eastern districts of Cologne.

Details about the bridges

The financial framework has already been set up. 92.6 million euros, including 13 million euros of planning costs, are planned for the southern bungry. The bridge at the Bastei is estimated at 79.6 million euros, whereby 12.1 million euros are calculated for planning costs. These investments are intended to significantly improve the existing foot and cycle path connections, such as Stadt-koeln communicated.

The south bond is designed as an inclined rope bridge with a striking steel pylon, and the downhill ramps will have a width of five to seven meters. The northern bridge, on the other hand, is built without a pylon and with two steel arches. A ascent ramp is being considered north of the Theodor Heuss Park. In addition, seating islands are intended on the pylons and bridge railings, which are intended to increase the value.

traffic planner context

Currently there are already seven bridges that connect the different districts of Koln across the Rhine. The new bridges are integrated in the transport network plan of the bicycle traffic concept and are intended to significantly improve the connection between left and right bank of the Rhine Cologne. The city of Cologne considers these measures as important in terms of transport and urban design in order to promote homobility.

The challenge is not only the planning and the associated financial aspects. On September 10, 2020, the City Council of Cologne was encouraged to carry out a realization competition for the new bridges. The following year, the process was switched to a competitive dialogue to give the planning teams more flexibility. In this way, interdisciplinary groups were able to develop and introduce designs before the official commission.

It remains to be seen whether the ambitious plans will become a reality in early 2026 until the preliminary draft planning is made. But the course is set to establish the Rheinbrücken as important connections for future urban mobility in Cologne.