Work has begun on the new Mühlendamm bridge
The Mühlendamm bridge on the south-eastern side of the Nikolai quarter is being rebuilt. Why this is necessary and what it means for our neighborhood.
The Senate Department for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection and the Environment (SenMVKU) has hosted an information event on July 9 at the Alte Münze on Molkenmarkt to inform the public, residents and businesses in particular, about the replacement construction of the Mühlendamm bridge.
Work began on July 15 and traffic is now restricted to one lane in each direction. Not an easy situation, but you can rest assured that the Nikolaiviertel is not affected by construction noise or dirt, but is as attractive and exciting as ever.
If you would like to visit us, we recommend using public transport during rush hour, as traffic jams can occur. Thanks to the newly built subway station “Rotes Rathaus” (line U5), BVG conveniently takes you right to our doorstep.
New bridge construction: Why is it necessary – and why now?
The Mühlendamm Bridge in its current form is a 116 meter long and 45 meter wide prestressed concrete bridge that was opened in 1968. It is not only large in terms of its dimensions, but also in terms of its importance for traffic in the capital. It is part of one of the main east-west traffic routes and around 70,000 cars pass over it every day. Unfortunately, it is now showing its age.
Inspections in 2019 revealed that the bridge would not be able to withstand the increased volume of traffic in the long term. It became clear that there was no way around building a new bridge, as the cracks found in the prestressed concrete were impossible to repair.
And so it is with mixed feelings that we look at the upcoming investment in the neighboring infrastructure. The old bridge was perceived as a concrete block that no longer blends in with the attractive cityscape of the new Stadtschloss with the Humboldt Forum and the new quarter being developed on Molkenmarkt.
The new bridge will also provide space for a tram, which will further improve access to the district. It will be more airy and offer rest areas with benches and shady trees on different levels, as well as a better quality of stay with a view of the River Spree. The paths will wind smoothly around and into the Nikolai Quarter to create a flowing transition, far away from the noisy road and we hope that the construction work will be completed by 2029.
Details on the new bridge construction and current information on the project can be found here.
