Connection at the old dead end will be restored – new construction costs around 159,000 euros
The pedestrian bridge over the Modau River in the area of "Alte Sackgasse" street will be rebuilt. The Darmstadt city council has taken note of the preliminary plans for the replacement bridge and approved its implementation. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2027.
The production of the steel structure is expected to take approximately four months. The subsequent construction and assembly work on site is expected to take around one month.
The old bridge was dismantled in January
The previous pedestrian bridge was dismantled in January 2026 due to its poor structural condition. It connected the old dead-end street with the Modau promenade and the adjacent playground and park area. Since its removal, this direct pedestrian connection has been missing.
Five different design options were examined for the new building. This included assessing the feasibility of barrier-free access. However, according to the city, this is not possible due to the local conditions. The terrain is significantly lower on the side facing the old cul-de-sac than on the side facing the Modau promenade. Previously, access to that side was via a staircase with eight steps.
New steel bridge will be 13 meters long
The plan calls for a single-span steel pedestrian bridge, 13 meters long and 2.50 meters wide. A 2.50-meter-wide staircase will also be built. The existing abutments of the old bridge can largely be reused.
“This will restore the vital connection across the Modau River for the neighborhood,” explains City Planning Director Paul Georg Wandrey. The new bridge will be safe and usable in accordance with current pedestrian regulations.
A barrier-free solution was not feasible due to factors including the differences in elevation, the limited possible ramp length, the available width, and adjacent property access points. According to Wandrey, the chosen plan represents the best possible implementable option under these conditions.
Total costs approximately €159,000
The actual construction work, including the staircase, is expected to cost around €119,000. This includes a 5% contingency for unforeseen expenses. An additional €40,000 is required for planning services and preparatory work that have already been commissioned.
(DARMSTADT – RED/PSD/stip)
