Middle section of the new Rader Hochbrücke transported by pontoon to installation site

The next step is to take place on the same night, according to the information: During the night, heavy-duty cranes will install it into the bridge. This brings the so-called gap closure for the new crossing over the canal within reach.

Next step: Gap closure

The old Rader Hochbrücke had been under heavy strain for years and was considered to be in need of renovation. The new structure is being built on the axis of the A7 motorway, one of the most important north-south connections through Schleswig-Holstein. With the installation of the middle section, the new construction is now visibly taking shape.

For a traffic structure of this scale, the procedure using a floating pontoon and heavy-duty cranes is not unusual. Similar maneuvers have already been carried out on other major bridges in northern Germany, for example during the construction of the new Schlei Bridge or during repair work in the Port of Hamburg.

Significance of the new bridge

With the installation of the middle section, the schedule for the further construction is likely to become clearer. Those responsible for the project had most recently announced that the gap closure in the current construction phase would occur "soon" – this wording is consistent with the information now available.

For motorway traffic on the A7, the construction site remains a challenge for months to come: diversions and narrowed lanes have been part of everyday life since the work began. With the installation of the middle section, it is becoming apparent that at least one important construction phase can soon be completed.

So far, the responsible project company has not provided any specific information on the further course of events. Should the installation proceed as planned, the next steps are likely to include the installation of bridge equipment, the road surface, and the subsequent traffic diversion. Until then, the route will remain in construction mode.