The Friesenbrücke is a railway bridge in Weener, Germany, crossing the river Ems.

Celebrity Reflection passing the bridge in 2012

Background

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The first bridge was built under the name Emsbrücke Hilkenborg between 1874 and 1876.[1] In June 1922 the lighter Hohenfelde, towed by the Theseus, collided with the bridge, making the construction of a new bridge necessary.[2]

Between 1924 and 1926 the new bridge, a bascule bridge and the first Friesenbrücke, was built with a length of about 335 meters. During World War 2 it was blown up by German soldiers (Wehrmacht) to stop the Canadian soldiers at the Ems.[2]

After World War 2, a new Friesenbrücke was built between 1951 and 1952, also a bascule bridge.[2] The bridge wasn't wide enough to allow all newbuilts of the Meyer Werft in Papenburg to pass the bridge since the 1980s, so a second was created, which was opened by a crane vessel multiple times a year.

In December 2015 the bridge was damaged by the cargo ship Emsmoon. Since then, the bridge has been closed for railway. In the following days, the scrap was removed by a floating crane.[3] Passing the bridge wasn't possible for ocean-going ships for about one week.[4] The bridge was demolished in 2021/22.[5][6]

A new Friesenbrücke is planned to be completed in 2024 as a swing bridge.[7][8] Construction officially started in July 2021.[9] The bridge will have a length of 337 meters. The swing element will have a length of 145 meters, the wide of the ship opening will be around 57 meters.[10] The bridge keeper's house won't be demolished, and will get an additional floor.[11][12][13] Construction of the superstructure in Weener started in July 2024.[14][15][16]

 
Friesenfähre

Until the completion, there is ferry service between Weener and Westoverledingen.[17]

In May 2024, a delay for around a half year was announced.[18]

References

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  1. ^ Schenkelberg: Die Friesenbrücke über die Ems bei Weener. In: Zentralblatt der Bauverwaltung, 46. Jahrgang 1926, Nr. 47 (vom 24. November 1926), S. 530–533 (vgl. Literatur).
  2. ^ a b c "Oldenburg – Leer – Nieuweschans → Strecken & Stationen → Emsbrücke Hilkenborg" (in German). Retrieved 2022-03-06.
  3. ^ Zeitung, Rheiderland (2018-04-19). "Trümmerbrücke wird zerlegt". Rheiderland.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-04-11.
  4. ^ NDR. "Nachrichten aus Oldenburg und Ostfriesland". www.ndr.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-04-11.
  5. ^ "Wie der Stau bei Brückensanierungen aufgelöst werden soll" (in German). 2023-10-16. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  6. ^ "Die drei Pfeiler im Deichvorland werden entfernt" (in German). 2022-05-17. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  7. ^ "Friesenbrücke - Europas größte Hub-Dreh-Brücke" [Friesenbrücke - Europe's largest lifting and rotating bridge] (in German). Deutsche Bahn. 16 March 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Europas größte Hub-Dreh-Brücke entsteht: Deutsche Bahn baut neue Friesenbrücke" [Europe's largest lifting and rotating bridge is being built: Deutsche Bahn is building a new Frisian bridge] (in German). Deutsche Bahn. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Weener: Symbolischer Baustart für die neue Friesenbrücke". 2021-07-23. Archived from the original on 2021-07-23. Retrieved 2023-08-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  10. ^ page 1/5. "page 4/5" (PDF). Retrieved 18 January 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ "Projekt Friesenbrücke: Bahn plant die Sanierung des Brückenwärterhauses". www.ga-online.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  12. ^ Zeitung, Rheiderland (2023-08-16). "Brückenwärter bleibt in Weener". Rheiderland.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  13. ^ Zeitung, Rheiderland (2016-06-15). "Brückenhaus wird erneuert". Rheiderland.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  14. ^ https://www.nwzonline.de/landkreis-leer/friesenbruecke-bei-westoverledingen-die-naechsten-drei-bauteile-erreichen-bis-ende-der-woche-die-baustelle_a_4,1,2049060636.html
  15. ^ https://www.mt.de/regionales/niedersachsen/Schwimmkran-liefert-weiteres-Bauteil-fuer-neue-Friesenbruecke-23911936.html
  16. ^ https://www.oz-online.de/artikel/1492496/Die-naechsten-Schritte-beim-Neubau-der-Friesenbruecke
  17. ^ "Friesenfähre // Gemeinde Westoverledingen". www.westoverledingen.de. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  18. ^ Inbetriebnahme der Wunderline Groningen–Bremen verschiebt sich, 23 May 2024, retrieved 25 May 2024 (german).

53°09′41″N 7°22′21″E / 53.1614°N 7.3724°E / 53.1614; 7.3724