New replacement building at Dresdner Platz: construction project officially completed
Around 25 million euros invested in new building - schedule and budget adhered to
After almost four years of construction, the City of Chemnitz and Deutsche Bahn AG officially completed the construction work on the Dresdner Platz bridge today with a photo opportunity in the presence of Mayor Barbara Ludwig and the Deutsche Bahn Group representative, Artur Stempel. The engineering structure was technically approved and opened to traffic at the end of December 2013. Around 25 million euros were invested in the new replacement structure, and both the planned budget and schedule for the major project were adhered to.
Mayor Barbara Ludwig: "This marks the end of one of the most challenging, complex and complicated construction projects in the city of Chemnitz. The City of Chemnitz and Deutsche Bahn have worked together in an exemplary manner. With the remodelled junction at Chemnitz Central Station, Chemnitz will have a state-of-the-art infrastructure, which we will continue to develop into the Chemnitz model together with our partners at CVAG and VMS. Last but not least, our thanks also go to the Chemnitz motorists who have endured the construction period with great patience and understanding."
The Group Representative of Deutsche Bahn AG for the Free State of Saxony added: "The modernisation of the Chemnitz railway junction is one of Deutsche Bahn's most important construction projects in the Free State of Saxony. By creating a modern and efficient railway junction here, we are ensuring reliable passenger and freight transport by rail in the medium and long term. By optimally linking the road and rail transport modes - as here in Chemnitz at Dresdner Platz - we are creating the basis for a balanced mix of transport modes that will strengthen Saxony's economic and urban centres in the long term.
Since 20 December, traffic on the B169 and B173 federal roads has been flowing freely again on four widened lanes. At the same time as this major urban project is being implemented, Deutsche Bahn AG is also rebuilding the Chemnitz railway junction, making the construction of the new bridge an extremely complex and technically demanding project. For the construction of the new bridge over the DB facilities, there were only precisely coordinated construction windows available, some of them at night. The work was therefore carried out in close coordination and could be realised on schedule. Despite major technical challenges, difficulties were overcome and the jointly agreed deadlines were met over the four-year construction period. Hentschke Bau GmbH and STRABAG AG were commissioned with the construction of this major project. 90 per cent of the construction sum was funded by the Free State of Saxony.
Preparatory work for the construction of the new Dresdner Platz bridge began at the start of 2010. The demolition of the old bridge structure and the replacement construction of the new road overpass (Dresdner Platz bridge) was carried out while maintaining two lanes of traffic on Waisenstraße / Dresdner Straße and pedestrian traffic on Sonnenstraße / Dresdner Straße. A temporary bridge was built over the DB AG railway tracks for traffic on the B169 and B173 trunk roads. Initially, the old bridge was partially demolished to create a temporary construction track for the reconstruction of the DB AG Chemnitz junction. The old bridge structure was completely demolished at the end of 2011.
Construction of the new bridge began in March 2012. The eastern foundations with abutments were constructed first, followed by the western foundations from August 2012. Work then began on the superstructure. The prefabricated composite girders required for this were completed on site in field factories. In mid-December 2012, the last of a total of 68 elements was laid during a night-time shutdown of the DB facilities. The in-situ concrete additions to the nine bridge segments were then completed in spring 2013.
Traffic was able to cross the new Dresdner Platz bridge for the first time in summer 2013, limited to two lanes. From then on, the temporary bridge could be dismantled. At the same time, the new replacement structure was completed and the necessary utilities were laid. The final main construction work was completed with the road markings, the installation of the traffic lights and the traffic sign bridge.
The remaining outstanding work will be completed by the spring. This concerns the facing of the retaining wall on Waisenstrasse, the construction of the Sonnenstrasse/Dresdner Platz footpath connection to Freiberger Strasse and parts of the property fencing. The greenery and tree planting will also take place as planned in spring 2014.
Data, figures, facts (rounded):
1 ) Dimensions of the bridge
Bridge width (between the railings) 125 metres
span widt h20.70 metres
Clearance height (above the DB tracks) 5.80 metres
2 ) Main quantities (without road construction)
Reinforcing steel 900 tonnes
Concrete (volume )4.900 cubic metres
Concrete (weight )12.190 tonnes
Flat steel girders 680 tonnes
3 ) Construction phases
Start of constructio n1/2010
Excavation of temporary bridge 6/2010
Bridge demolition
Phase 18/2010 to 9/2010
Phase 210/2011 to 1/2012
Start of construction of new bridge 3/2012
Excavation of temporary bridge 7/2013
Partial traffic release 7/2013
Opening to trafficEnd of 2013