Renovation of the elevated road in Halle: traffic chaos from July 21st!

Renovation of the elevated road in Halle: traffic chaos from July 21st!

In Halle (Saale), extensive renovation work is imminent on the elevated road, which will significantly impact traffic in the city. Work will begin on July 21, 2025 and is expected to take a year and a half. A total of six bridge structures, which date from 1969, will be replaced. How dubisthalle.de reports, the work will initially start with the two bridges over the lumber yard, very close to the Lührmann department store.

The renovation of these two bridges is quite challenging: new bridge parts will be installed on one side of the road by January 2026 before moving on to the other side. During the entire construction period, traffic will be routed alternately so that only one lane is available in each direction. In addition, all affected bridges are classified as “at risk of brittle fracture”, which is due to the prestressing steel used. Visible damage such as cracks and concrete spalling illustrate the need for action. The costs for the timber yard bridges amount to around 5 million euros - one million euros more than originally planned. The city administration explains that the higher costs are due to the current market situation and that no cheaper offer was received.

More construction sites in Halle

But something is not only happening on the Hochstraße. Those too Renovation projects in Halle cannot be overlooked. This includes the restoration of the traffic system on Fritz-Kießling-Straße and Wilhelm-Grothe-Straße in the Osendorf district, which became necessary due to flood damage in 2013. Here the drinking water supply pipes are being renewed and the road infrastructure is being improved. The measure covers a length of around 740 meters and is intended to increase the quality of life of the residents.

In view of the extensive renovations in road and bridge construction in Germany, as already stated in a report tagesschau.de discussed, the modernization of dilapidated bridges will be more expensive overall than previously assumed. With an estimated 10,000 bridges in Germany in need of renovation, the costs for such projects are significantly high. This leads to economic damage caused by full closures. The Federal Transport Minister has already presented a package of measures to accelerate bridge renovation in order to reduce the renovation backlog on motorways and federal highways.

The city of Halle is therefore required to not only address the existing traffic problems, but also to provide certainty for future challenges such as the increasing financial requirements for bridge renovation. Whether the upcoming projects can be realized depends on financing and efficient planning. In the meantime, city residents should prepare for some traffic changes.