Köhlbrandbrücke
Encyclopedia
The Köhlbrand Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge
in Hamburg
, Germany
, which connects the harbour area on the island of Wilhelmsburg between the Norderelbe and Süderelbe branches of the Elbe
river with motorway 7 (exit Waltershof). It bridges the Süderelbe, here called Köhlbrand
, before it unites with the Norderelbe again. The bridge was opened on 9 September 1974.
. It took 4 years to build.
Since its opening the bridge has only twice been open to pedestrians, on the opening day 1974 and on its 30th birthday in 2004. The magnificent view over the city of Hamburg is however not completely limited to the drivers of cars and trucks. The bridge is on the route of Hamburg's yearly UCI World Tour bicycle race Vattenfall Cyclassics
. Quite a number of the amateurs participating in this race make a stop on top of the Köhlbrand Bridge.
Several people have committed suicide by jumping from the Köhlbrand Bridge.
The bridge was a spectacular location in the 1987 German thriller Der Joker, starring Peter Maffay
and Michael York
. It was also featured in the 2011 video game Modern Warfare 3, during the mission "Goalpost".
The bridge is made from about 81000 cubic metres (105,944 cu yd) of concrete and 12700 tonne of steel. Each day, about 30,000 cars pass over the bridge. Its total cost being 160 million DM.
The bridge is made of 88 steel cables (each of a diameter of 10 centimetres (4 in)). It is 3940 metres (12,927 ft) long, the centre piece 325 m (1,066 ft). It is carried by 75 pylons (the highest one of height 135 m (443 ft)) and reaches a height of 55 metres (180 ft) to allow ships pass underneath it, even at high tide. The road has an inclination of 4%.
Cable-stayed bridge
A cable-stayed bridge is a bridge that consists of one or more columns , with cables supporting the bridge deck....
in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, which connects the harbour area on the island of Wilhelmsburg between the Norderelbe and Süderelbe branches of the Elbe
Elbe
The Elbe is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It rises in the Krkonoše Mountains of the northwestern Czech Republic before traversing much of Bohemia , then Germany and flowing into the North Sea at Cuxhaven, 110 km northwest of Hamburg...
river with motorway 7 (exit Waltershof). It bridges the Süderelbe, here called Köhlbrand
Köhlbrand
Köhlbrand is a river of Hamburg, Germany.-See also:*List of rivers of Hamburg...
, before it unites with the Norderelbe again. The bridge was opened on 9 September 1974.
History
The bridge was designed by Hans Wittfoht and Egon JuxEgon Jux
Egon Jux was a German architect. He is best known for the Grand Duchess Charlotte Bridge, Luxembourg and Köhlbrandbrücke, Hamburg.Jux was a student of the French architect Le Corbusier.-References:...
. It took 4 years to build.
Since its opening the bridge has only twice been open to pedestrians, on the opening day 1974 and on its 30th birthday in 2004. The magnificent view over the city of Hamburg is however not completely limited to the drivers of cars and trucks. The bridge is on the route of Hamburg's yearly UCI World Tour bicycle race Vattenfall Cyclassics
Vattenfall Cyclassics
The Vattenfall Cyclassics is an annual one-day pro and amateur cycling race in and around Hamburg. Although it is a race with a short history, it is nevertheless reckoned as a classic. It started as an unimportant race in 1996, but because of the fast growing popularity of cycling in Germany, it...
. Quite a number of the amateurs participating in this race make a stop on top of the Köhlbrand Bridge.
Several people have committed suicide by jumping from the Köhlbrand Bridge.
The bridge was a spectacular location in the 1987 German thriller Der Joker, starring Peter Maffay
Peter Maffay
Peter Alexander Makkay better known as Peter Maffay is a German musician.- Biography :Born in Brasov, Romania, the son of a German , he was 14 when his family relocated to his parents' Germany in 1963. In the same year, he started his first band, The Dukes...
and Michael York
Michael York (actor)
Michael York, OBE is an English actor.-Early life:York was born in Fulmer, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, the son of Florence Edith May , a musician; and Joseph Gwynne Johnson, a Llandovery born Welsh ex-Royal Artillery British Army officer and executive with Marks and Spencer department stores...
. It was also featured in the 2011 video game Modern Warfare 3, during the mission "Goalpost".
Technical data
The bridge is made of 88 steel cables (each of a diameter of 10 centimetres (4 in)). It is 3940 metres (12,927 ft) long, the centre piece 325 m (1,066 ft). It is carried by 75 pylons (the highest one of height 135 m (443 ft)) and reaches a height of 55 metres (180 ft) to allow ships pass underneath it, even at high tide. The road has an inclination of 4%.