STRABAG modernizes railway line 201 in Poland
Jun 4, 2026 at 10:41 AM
Study on CO₂ border adjustment in Germany
Jun 5, 2026 at 10:12 AM
On Friday morning, significant traffic disruptions occurred in downtown Bonn. The reason for this is the closure of the Nordbrücke, which has been closed to motor vehicle traffic since Wednesday, June 3, 2026. Bonn’s public utilities report an unusually high volume of traffic typical for a „bridge day,“ as Thursday was a public holiday in North Rhine-Westphalia. The Kennedybrücke, Bertha-von-Suttner-Platz, and the streets around the town hall are particularly affected. Traffic also backed up on the Beuel side at Konrad-Adenauer-Platz.
Closure due to damage
The closure of the Nordbrücke was ordered by Autobahn GmbH due to newly identified damage to the bridge. This decision came as a surprise to many citizens and commuters. Previously, there were restrictions that included a driving ban for trucks over 7.5 tons. Technical inspections were established to monitor compliance with this regulation.
Dirk Brandenburger, technical managing director of Autobahn GmbH, emphasizes the importance of safety for all road users. „The safety of the people who cross this bridge daily is non-negotiable. We are acting based on our current expert assessment results,“ explains Brandenburger. He points out that the impact of the closure on traffic in the region is known and that alternative routes have been prepared in close coordination with the authorities.
Additionally, Brandenburger announced that further detailed investigations will be conducted to explore technical possibilities that could allow for the reopening of the bridge to traffic. However, a final assessment of the situation can only be made after these investigations are completed. Until then, the bridge remains closed to traffic.
Long-term planning for the Rhine crossing
The Rhine Bridge Bonn-Nord, also known as the Friedrich-Ebert-Brücke, was built in 1967. It consists of the left-bank approach bridge, the main bridge, and the right-bank approach bridge. The structure has two continuous lanes in each direction and one turning lane. Over 100,000 vehicles use the bridge daily.
Due to the limited remaining service life of the Rhine Bridge Bonn-Nord, a renewal of the Rhine crossing is necessary. Furthermore, the highway section between the Bonn-Nord interchange and the Bonn-Nordost interchange is included as an expansion project (6 lanes) in the Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan (BVWP) 2030, which necessitates a wider cross-section for the bridge.
The technical planning for the renewal of the Rhine crossing has already begun. According to current knowledge, construction is expected to begin no earlier than the 2030s.
