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New construction over the Riedbahn railway line completed – city and farmers celebrate opening after eleven months of construction
The path to the fields is open again: After approximately eleven months of construction, the new Mühlweg bridge in Dornheim has been completed. Farmers, cyclists, and day-trippers can once again use the route over the Riedbahn railway line without restrictions. Representatives from the city, the railway company, and the construction firms celebrated the project at a small ceremony on site.
Mayor Jörg Rüddenklau emphasized the relief for farmers: "Farmers have recently had to take long detours via Büttelborn. Thank you for your patience." He added that the bridge renovation is an important contribution to improving the local infrastructure.
A multi-million dollar project with challenges
Thilo Groß, head of the Office for Roads, Transport and Environment, provided information on the project costs: 4.1 million euros have been invested so far. Further negotiations are still pending, but the budget of five million euros is to be adhered to.
The old bridge was no longer safe to use. Regular inspections had revealed a potential risk of collapse, and the protective barriers for the overhead power lines were also no longer intact. Groß pointed to the comparable Zeller Bridge in the Odenwald region , which had to be closed for similar reasons.
The construction period was closely tied to the planned Riedbahn railway line renovation between July and December 2024. Deutsche Bahn had indicated that no further line closures would be possible in the coming years. Complications such as the late discovery of asbestos and tar contamination led to delays. Even after the railway line reopened in December, work had to continue – sometimes while trains were running at speeds of up to 220 kilometers per hour.
A specially designed support and suspension scaffold enabled safe work during the passage of vehicles. Further challenges arose from short-notice plan changes, permitting processes, and the search for storage and access areas. Department head Groß praised the swift and pragmatic cooperation of all involved: "This project could only be successfully implemented thanks to the great commitment of everyone involved."
(GROSS-GERAU – RED/PSGG)
