Rabenstein railway viaduct - handover of funding decision
Photo opportunity: 10 October, 11 a.m. at the foot of the viaduct, Oberfrohnaer Straße
On Thursday 10 October at 11 a.m. At 11 a.m. on Thursday 10 October, Torsten Stankow, Head of the Municipal Road Construction Funding Department at the LASuV, will hand over the funding decision for the maintenance and repair of the Rabenstein railway viaduct, one of the oldest steel construction bridges in Germany, to Mayor Michael Stötzer. The Free State of Saxony is providing the city of Chemnitz with a fixed grant totalling 1.5 million euros. The funds come from the former GDR party assets.
The bridge structure currently serves as a hiking trail and is also to be upgraded as a cycle path in the future. Due to the combination of tourist use and technical monument, there is a high level of public interest in preserving the viaduct.
After 122 years of service, no maintenance work has yet been carried out on the structure. Only the rear west abutment ("Am weißen Stein") was renovated in 2009/2010.
Among other things, the steel framework, the pavement/cycleway surface, the east abutment and the pier base are now being renovated or newly constructed. New railings, bridge lighting and drainage will also be installed. As a special highlight - in the truest sense of the word - it is planned to illuminate the viaduct with LED spotlights in the dark.
A total of around 1.9 million euros has been budgeted for the construction project. A corresponding construction decision is currently being prepared by the civil engineering department.