Dömitz railroad bridge

Project details

Dömitz railroad bridge

The railroad bridge near Dömitz - once a spectacular link across the Elbe - is one of the milestones of bridge construction in the 19th century. Completed in mid-1873, with a total length of almost one kilometer, it was the longest river bridge in Germany of its time and part of the railroad line between Wittenberge and Lüneburg. Designed by the Berlin engineer Ernst Häseler and built by the Harkort factory, the structure was characterized by robust Schwedler truss girders.

The bridge was destroyed by Allied air raids during the Second World War and never repaired due to the division of Germany. Today, 16 foreland arches and the bridgehead on the west side are still listed and form a moving industrial monument. In August 2023, a 130-metre-long skywalk was opened on the renovated arches, combining the historical context with contemporary visitor guidance.

To make it safe for visitors to walk on the bridge, X-TEND Stainless Steel Cable Meshes with a mesh width of 40 mm and a cable diameter of 1.5 mm were installed as railing infill. Thanks to the open cable structure, the view of the old bridge and the impressive view of the biosphere reserve remains virtually unobstructed.