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Construction to begin at the end of April, with opening planned for June 2027
According to the Hessian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Hessen Mobil, construction of the new Zeller Bridge in the Odenwald region is scheduled to begin at the end of April and will take approximately one year. The important traffic link is expected to reopen to traffic in June 2027.
Christian Jöst, President of the Darmstadt Rhine-Main-Neckar Chamber of Industry and Commerce, welcomes the presented timeline. The concrete timeframe creates planning certainty for affected businesses and residents.
The construction of the new bridge was commissioned back in December 2025. The schedule now presented clarifies when the region can expect some relief from traffic congestion.
Planning security for businesses and commuters
According to the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), it is crucial for companies in the region to have a reliable outlook. The current strain caused by the closure is having a significant impact on commuter flows and economic activity.
Jöst emphasizes that the close cooperation between politics and administration has been crucial from the outset. This approach should be maintained to ensure that the construction period does not last longer than necessary.
“Odenwald tempo” as a model for Hesse
The Chamber of Industry and Commerce president also calls for the experiences surrounding the Zeller Bridge to be used as a model for further infrastructure projects in Hesse. The so-called "Odenwald pace" should serve as an example.
In this context, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) refers to the position paper of the expert commission "Innovation in Road Construction." This paper recommends, among other things, functional tenders, in which planning and construction services are awarded together. This procedure contributed to an acceleration in the construction of the new Zeller Bridge and should be used more extensively in the future.
From the Chamber of Industry and Commerce's point of view, the project can provide important impetus for more efficient infrastructure planning throughout Hesse, despite the economic burdens in the region.
(RED/PM/IHK)
Featured image: Christian Jöst, President of the Darmstadt Rhine-Main-Neckar Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). Photo: Darmstadt Chamber of Industry and Commerce / Dennis Möbus
