Friesenbrücke

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

Celebrity Reflection passing the bridge in 2012

Background

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. The bridge was demolished in 2021/22.

A new Friesenbrücke is planned to be completed in 2024 as a swing bridge.[3][4] Construction officially started in July 2021.[5]

References
  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. "Oldenburg – Leer – Nieuweschans → Strecken & Stationen → Emsbrücke Hilkenborg" (in German). Retrieved 2022-03-06.
  3. "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.
  4. "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.
  5. "Weener: Symbolischer Baustart für die neue Friesenbrücke". 2021-07-23. Retrieved 2023-08-22.

53.1614°N 7.3724°E / 53.1614; 7.3724

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