Adolphe Bridge

49.6084083333336.1268472222222Koordinaten: 49 ° 36 ' 30.3 "N, 6 ° 7' 36.6 " E

F1

Petruss Valley

The Adolphe Bridge (French Pont Adolphe, other German spelling Adolph Bridge, formerly Adolf Bridge ), also called the " New Bridge ", crosses the Petruss Valley in Luxembourg, connecting Boulevard Royal in the old city with the Avenue de la Liberté, in the station District. You are still one of the largest stone arch bridges in the world.

Description

The Adolphe Bridge is the general road between the old town and the train station area. Originally, it also enabled a popularly referred to by Charly narrow gauge railway Luxembourg Echternach - crossing the Petruss Valley. The proposed new tram will also go over the bridge.

Technical information

The 153 m long bridge consists of a powerful double arch with a span of 84.55 m, which crosses the Pétrusse valley at a height of 42 m. Only for these two means arcs 2850 m³ Gilsdorfer sandstone were used. On both sides of this double sheet four 5.40 m wide cost-cutting arcs are sorted elevated to support the bridge plate. The double arches are framed on both sides by strong pillars wide and 21.60 m double arches on the slopes of the valley. The two semi- arcs at a distance of 6 m from each other; they are the fighters 6.12 m and 5.32 m wide at the bow apex. Each sheet is on the combatants 2.16 m thick and tapers towards the bow apex to 1.44 m. This stone-wall structure supports a bridge plate made ​​of reinforced concrete, which is bordered by balustrades. Originally, the bridge plate was approximately 16 m wide; for a renewal of 1961/62 was widened to 17.20 m within the balustrades. It currently has four lanes and one each by a raised curb protected walkway. t

Importance for the development of bridge

The bridge was built according to plans by Paul Séjourné and is considered his masterpiece, which he achieved international recognition. She was at the time of its establishment, the largest stone arch bridge in the world. Its most important feature is the resolution of the single, broad arch of the bridge in two narrow, parallel next to each other arches that were built one after the other, so that only a narrow falsework was needed that could be used twice. Designed as a truss falsework was not placed in its full width on the valley floor, but supported only by a narrow central pier and supported at the abutments, however, and stiffened with wire cables, which further substantial savings enabled. The elevated on the large sheet of open arches savings also resulted in a weight savings compared to the previously common, massive arches infilled interstices. With the bridge plate from the then new reinforced concrete, the space between the double sheets could easily covered and a road to be created, which was wider by a quarter as the two arches. The space could also be used for sewer lines. Paul Séjourné thus creating a bridge type, which soon was spread worldwide especially in concrete bridges. Only a few years later, the design for the construction of the Walnut Lane Bridge in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA was used, one built in the years 1906 to 1908 Concrete bridge with similar dimensions. He repeated the design in the 1908-1912 built, slightly smaller Pont Sidi Rached Constantine (Algeria).

History

The Passerelle, a 1859-1861 built viaduct of 24 arches a few hundred meters to the east, proved after the opening of the fortress in 1867, soon to be too narrow for the traffic of the rapidly expanding city. In 1896 the first plans for a bridge under the direction of the Luxembourg engineer Albert Rodange were created. Considering the size of the construction project, the government considered it useful to their recommended by the French Government, Paul Séjourné be consulted as experts in large arch bridges. His most important contribution was certainly - in addition to numerous other changes - the division of the bridge on parallel arcs.

On July 14, 1900 Grand Duke Adolph I. laid the foundation. Since this bridge all materials were delivered from the high altitude districts, began with a temporary bridge across the valley, from which was lowered from the material to its destination. The Status of construction was regularly informed by the Luxembourg court photographer Charles Bernhoeft documented Work on the Stone Arch Bridge was carried out by Fougerolle Frères ( which later was to become the company Eiffage ) from the beginning; the reinforced concrete slab was created by the company of Edmond Coignet. After a construction period of three years, the bridge of its determination was handed over on July 24, 1903 solemnly.

The name " New Bridge " ( Luxembourgish " Nei Bréck " ) got the Adolphe Bridge to distinguish it from the Passerelle, which was also called " Old Bridge " ( " Al Bréck ").

To celebrate the centenary of the Adolphe Bridge Luxembourg post was 2003, a € 0.45 stamp and the French Post Office issued a for € 0.50.

Renovations

As part of an overhaul in 1960/ 61, the roadway of the bridge was widened. And their bridge plate was removed completely covers the 6 meter wide space between the two arches with concrete slabs and concrete on a new reinforced concrete slab. 1976 minor repairs and renewal of pavements have been made.

In studies of the Road Administration was established in the nineties that numerous blocks of stone have in the arches damage that can be traced back to the line work in the sixties, which led to an eccentric load of the twin arches. Thus, the cracks do not grow, more than 200 anchor rods were attached to the arcs in the fall of 2003. In early 2005 broke a such anchoring rod, whereupon pedestrian paths under the bridge have been temporarily disabled. In addition, the sealing of the bridge against condensation proved to be insufficient, which led to a penetration of large parts of stone masonry with salt water.

With a basic renovation of the bridge should be started in 2011. The end of 2011 began the preparatory work. The construction also provide for widening of the bridge by 75 cm, which is to enable the planned 2014 construction of a tram line from Luxexpo buildings on the historic town center to the railway station of Luxembourg. Since the reorganization provides for the removal of the bridge plate and parts of the superstructure, began in December 2012, the construction of a temporary bridge, which is about 50 m west of the built Adolphe Bridge. This is to maintain the flow of traffic of the capital during the four-year renovation. On 6 August 2013, the construction of the first bridge pier and carriers began. The construction is expected to be completed in December 2013. The total cost for the temporary bridge will be given with 23 million.