The end of the eight-year construction of the new Hochmosel Bridge has been celebrated with a citizen's party. Thousands of people wanted to cross the Moselle on the new bridge at a height of 160 meters. "That's impressive when you're on top of it," said the local mayor of Zeltingen-Rachtig, Bianca Waters (non-party). The celebration organized six surrounding Moselle communities with the state enterprise mobility (LBM) Rhineland-Palatinate.
The building between Ürzig and Rachtig was currently the largest bridge construction project in Europe. In Germany, the Hochmosel bridge is the second highest bridge after the Kochertal bridge (maximum 185 meters) in Baden-Württemberg. The crossing is part of a 25 kilometer long new line (B50) and creates a direct road link between the Benelux countries and the Rhine-Main area.
The building was controversial since its planning. Critics complained that the bridge destroyed the idyllic landscape. Cost increases also made headlines. The cost of the entire project amounts to at least 483 million euros, the bridge accounts for about 175 million euros.
"We have been overrun"
The first came on Saturday, when heavy fog was still hanging in the Mosel valley. By noon the sun came out. "We have been overrun," said Zeltingen-Rachtig's first associate Harald Guggenmos, who estimated the number of visitors at 8,000 to 10,000. In the neighboring communities is now eagerly awaited, how the traffic impact, and how strong the noise pollution.
Pedestrians and cyclists crossed the 1.7 kilometers long and up to 160 meters high bridge from the Hunsrück to the Eifel side with a kilometer-wide view over the Mosel valley. Along the way there were several soup and wine stalls. It was a unique opportunity to get on foot on the bridge, said the construction supervisor at LBM Rhineland-Palatinate, Christoph Schinhofen. Later this will not be possible anymore.
Next Thursday, the building will be opened to traffic. Around 25,000 vehicles per day will then drive over the bridge.