High Moselle Bridge

The Hochmoselbrücke (High Moselle Bridge) is a major road bridge, that crosses the valley of the Moselle south of Ürzig and north of Zeltingen-Rachtig in Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. It was opened to the public traffic on 21 November 2019. The bridge – part of a road connection, the Hochmoselübergang (High Moselle Crossing), incorporating a rerouted stretch of Bundesstrasse (Federal Highway) 50 – is intended to facilitate the flow of traffic between Belgian and Dutch ports and the greater Frankfurt area.

Hochmoselbrücke
The bridge in May 2019
Coordinates 49°58′07″N 7°00′00″E
CarriesMotor vehicles
CrossesMoselle
LocaleÜrzig and Zeltingen-Rachtig, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
Characteristics
DesignBeam bridge
MaterialStructural steel, Concrete
Total length1,702.4 metres (5,585 ft)
Width29.0 metres (95.1 ft)
Height158 metres (518 ft)
Longest span209.5 metres (687 ft)
No. of spans11
History
Construction startAugust 2011 (2011-08)
Construction end2019
ReplacesBrücke Zeltingen (on present B50/B53)

Construction
The Hochmoselbrücke under construction on 19 June 2012

A proposal for the highway and bridge was first made three decades ago for strategic reasons during the Cold War.[1] The project was reactivated to link the Frankfurt area, specifically the Hahn airport,[2] to the Belgian and Dutch harbors with updated plans drawn in the early 21st century.

The plan called for a 1702.4 m long steel box beam bridge that crosses the river at a maximum height of 158 m. The width of the bridge will be 29.0 m to allow four-lane traffic. Ten monolithic pylons made from concrete will support the bridge; their height varies between 15 and 150 m.[3] The estimated costs are 270 million euros.[4] Cost increases caused headlines. The costs of the entire project amount to at least 483 million euros, with the bridge accounting for 175 million euros.The project was completed in November 2019.[3][5]

Opposition

Opposition to the project is based on questions of its economical necessity and the negative ecological impact on the Mosel wine region. It is indicated that current available highway connections between the Belgian and Dutch harbors and Frankfurt are adequate, and the proposed highway with its bridge would not present a shortcut and thus would not be economically advantageous. More importantly, perhaps, is the concern that the "ungainly"[1] bridge would destroy a historical cultural section of major significance within the Mosel wine region.[6] The section is home to some of the finest and most historic vineyards of Germany[1] A potential change in the local ecosystem will affect the premier riesling areas of the Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Graacher Himmelreich, and Ürziger Würzgarten.[7] International wine experts, among them Hugh Johnson, Jancis Robinson and Stuart Pigott, are opposing the project and fear that the unique microclimate responsible for the Mosel rieslings will be impacted.[1][4]

  • The bridge under construction in May 2014
  • Eastern Bridge Piers, August 2014
  • Installation of the roadway using auxiliary pylon, September 2015
  • The bridge under construction in May 2019

Literature
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See also
  • List of highest bridges in the world

References
  1. Asimov E (2010-03-26). "In Germany, a Highway Threatens the Mosel Wine Region". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-05-11.
  2. Steinberger M (2009-09-10). "I'm Tasting Tar, Traffic Cones, Motor Oil ... A planned bridge could ruin Germany's cherished Mosel wine region". Slate. Retrieved 2010-05-11.
  3. HighestBridges.com. "Mosel High Bridge". Retrieved 2010-05-11.
  4. Beste R. (2010-04-07). "British Wine Critics Fight to Save Beloved Rieslings". Spiegelonline. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
  5. "Verkehrsfreigabe Hochmoselübergang". Landesbetrieb Mobilität Rheinland-Pfalz (in German). 18 November 2019.
  6. Lyons W (2009-11-20). "A Threat to the Mosel". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
  7. Initiative Pro-Mosel (September 11, 2009). "Last Chance Wine Forum" (PDF). Retrieved September 20, 2010.

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