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The city council provides information on the project status and further milestones
The science city of Darmstadt has reached the next formal step in the construction of the new Rheinstraße bridge . Building on the supplementary documents submitted to the Hessian Ministry of Economic Affairs on December 19, 2025, regarding the third amendment application, Paul Georg Wandrey informed the city council on Tuesday (28th) about the current project status and the next steps.
The accompanying document submitted by the city council outlines the key developments since the necessary reassessment of the project in November 2023 up to the turn of the year 2025/2026. It illustrates the numerous parallel planning, coordination, and approval processes that were required for the third amendment.
Current state of the bridge and traffic management
The Rhine Road Bridge is currently rated at condition level 3.8 and will be subjected to the lowest possible load until its demolition. Its use by the tram remains the highest priority and is ensured through special inspections every six months and ongoing monitoring. According to the city, the implemented one-way traffic loop has proven effective and, despite the restrictions, ensures a smooth flow of traffic. It will remain in place for the time being and will be continuously optimized.
Extensive voting and approval processes
The more than 100-page proposal from the city council clearly outlines the steps that were taken in parallel with the amendment application. These included a feasibility study for the now-adopted constructive option, completed within five months; legal clarifications regarding the admissibility of an amendment application; and intensive coordination with the permitting authority. Also involved were the historic preservation office, local residents, the fire department, the tramway's technical supervisory authority, and DB InfraGo (the local transport authority).
Against this background, the city expects the Hessian Ministry of Economic Affairs to approve the third amendment application in the first half of 2026. All project components will be closely integrated and coordinated with the external planning of DB InfraGo.
Further planning and timeline
The external engineering firm was commissioned in April 2025 and is currently translating the results of the feasibility study into a concrete design plan. This plan is being coordinated with, among others, the heritage preservation authority and the technical supervisory authority. Initial results are expected by the end of the first quarter of 2026.
The demolition of the existing bridge will necessitate a rail replacement service. The city, the local public transport company DADINA, and HEAG mobilo are already developing plans to minimize the impact on passengers. Maintaining tram service during the construction period is not possible for structural reasons.
The next planned milestones are the approval of the amendment application in 2026, the conversion of the overhead lines by DB InfraGo in 2027, and the demolition of the existing bridge starting in 2028. Completion of the new bridge is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2029. The timeline depends significantly on the track closures that must be approved by Deutsche Bahn.
Mobility officer Wandrey emphasizes: “The current proposal to the city council demonstrates the complexity of the construction task and makes it clear that we have submitted the next milestone in the project on schedule.”
(Darmstadt - Red/PSD/Stip)
