Important subway bridges at Gleisdreieck: demolition and years of construction!

Important subway bridges at Gleisdreieck: demolition and years of construction!

There are major changes to the Gleisdreieck in Berlin. From 2028, two subway bridges that cross the U1 and U3 lines will have to be demolished and rebuilt. This was announced by the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), which justified the need for these measures due to safety deficiencies on the old, listed bridges. The bridges, which have been in operation since 1913, are now almost a century old and show significant damage, as a structural inspection revealed in July 2016. At that time, a condition rating of 3.9 was given and since then the bridges have only been allowed to be driven on at a maximum speed of 40 km/h instead of the permitted 50 km/h. The BVG plans to invest around 74 million euros in the project, with 63 million euros earmarked for the viaduct and 11 million euros for the Dennewitz Bridge.

The effects of these construction measures are far-reaching. The demolition will cover an area of ​​approximately 1.1 hectares of Gleisdreieck Park, which will result in 10,720 square meters of the park having to be closed for several years. 15 trees also have to make way for the construction. During construction, one of the main paths through the park will be completely closed, while the other path will be sporadically closed to cyclists and pedestrians. This is likely to be a major restriction for many visitors to the park, which is an important route for cyclists.

Construction time and delays

The new bridges are scheduled to be completed in June 2030. But this time frame could be delayed. The BVG only submitted the documents for the planning approval process to the transport administration at the beginning of October 2023, which means that you have to deal with bureaucratic hurdles. Given the average approval process in Berlin takes four to five years, the opening of the new bridges could still be a long time coming.

The Gleisdreieckpark will therefore become a construction site for a few years, which will demand a lot not only from visitors but also from the surrounding residential area. On Dennewitzstrasse, the bridge even runs through a residential building, which further increases the complexity of the project. There is also the possibility of objections and lawsuits against the construction project, which could also delay the project. Monument protection requires an environmental impact assessment for the demolition of the old bridges.

Safety concerns and remediation plans

The BVG has not only been concerned about the safety of passengers on these routes since yesterday. As already mentioned, rust damage and popping rivets are a big problem, which is why the neighboring playgrounds had to be closed. The general renovation of the bridges is part of a comprehensive renovation program that includes a total of nine sub-projects worth 350 million euros. At the same time, Nollendorfplatz train station will also be closed for four months from January 2024 to May 2024 as renovation work is also pending there.

While preparations for this major project are already in full swing, it remains to be seen how residents, park visitors and commuters will deal with the changes. Gleisdreieckpark is popular not only because of its passive leisure options, but also because of its central location as an important transfer point for passengers between subway lines.

BVG has commissioned a specialized planning office for project management to ensure that the extensive work runs smoothly and that mishaps can be avoided. The Gleisdreieck will continue to be a place of importance for Berliners, even if the coming years will be riddled with challenges. The bridges simply need to be replaced - there is no way around it.

For more information on the plans and development of the construction project, readers can consult the articles by RBB24 and Daily Mirror visit.