Bremen - On behalf of DB Netz AG, the steel erectors of Schachtbau Nordhausen in a consortium with Echterhoff GmbH & Co. KG in Bremen renewed the "Sebaldsbrücker Heerstraße" rail overpass.

The structure to be replaced, dating from 1913, is a riveted steel truss in the shape of an arch. The new iron overpass is also a steel arch bridge and will be installed approx. 70 m west of the old bridge. It consists of two superstructures, each with one track, with a total weight of approx. 900 t. The steel bridge sections were prefabricated at the Nordhausen plant and transported to Bremen via heavy-load transporters with a total weight of up to 80 tons. Pre-assembly, including the final welding and corrosion protection work on the bridges, was carried out in downtown Bremen and took six months.

In mid-March, the first superstructure was shifted by means of SPMT (Self-Propelled Modular Transporter). For this purpose, the superstructure had to be moved from the assembly site to its destination via a narrow passage between two houses. The experienced steel erection team led by project manager Matthias Roeder then installed the bridge quickly and with millimeter precision, so that the first train was able to cross the bridge just 48 hours after the start of shifting. During the ten construction phases, the high monument protection requirements as well as the short closure period of the railroad presented special challenges for the steel constructors and their joint venture partners.

Shifting of the second superstructure is scheduled for September 2023.