Last Friday, the completion of the Danube Valley Bridge in Linz was officially celebrated.
The bridge is part of the major “A26 Linzer Autobahn” project and is part of the new four-lane western bypass of the city of Linz by ASFINAG Bau Management GmbH. The highway bridge connects to the existing traffic network in the north and south via tunnels.
The bridge design is the result of a successful collaboration between schlaich bergermann partner (sbp), Baumann + Obholzer Ingenieure and gmp Architekten, who won the international design competition in 2003. The Danube Valley Bridge in Linz is a genuine suspension bridge that stretches over 305 meters and spans the Danube as well as railroad tracks and two main roads. The structure has no pylons. Instead, the suspension cables are anchored directly into the steep rocky slopes of the Danube valley, making it the longest earth-anchored suspension bridge in the world and an outstanding technical structure.
The two approximately 500 m long suspension cable bundles each consist of twelve parallel, fully locked 145 mm spiral cables. These converge on the steep banks of the Danube and are anchored in the rock in two anchor blocks with 100 anchors each. The hangers are also designed as spiral cables and are connected to the suspension cables at an even distance using cable clamps, which are manufactured as cast elements. On both sides of the bridge, the end cross girders are supported on abutments in the entrance area of the tunnels. This special construction method contributes to the elegance and stability of the bridge.
From the very beginning, the focus was to create a structure that is as slender and minimalist as possible and blends harmoniously into the landscape of the sensitive Danube valley. “The new Danube Valley Bridge appears light and unobtrusive. It emerges from the mountain, floats above the water, and then disappears back into the rock – a straightforward construction with extreme technical challenges for the engineers. The goal was to treat this special location with great respect while creating an unmistakable and unique bridge.” says Andreas Keil, Board Member at sbp.
Another highlight is the lighting concept designed by sbp. In addition to the street lighting, spotlights are integrated into the suspension cable bundles, illuminating them from within. The indirect lighting traces the lines of the bridge and symbolizes the bridge crossing over the Danube in an impressive way, even at night.
Partial commissioning of the bridge is planned for the end of 2024, coinciding with the start of the next construction phases of the A26 project.
