Steel trusses cross the River Nidda
As part of the „Neue Mitte Bad Vilbel“ (new town center in Bad Vilbel) project, a public library with gastronomy is being built across the River Nidda and is expected to be completed in spring 2013.
Following rapid progress on the buildings forming the base (basement floors and stair enclosures), three huge steel trusses were put into place on 25th and 26th August 2011. A 500-tonne crane rotated the trusses across the Nidda with great precision. To the amazement of local residents, who had turned out in large numbers to watch, the enormous steel elements were positioned on the base structures on both sides of the river, one after another exactly as planned.
As part of the „Neue Mitte Bad Vilbel“ (new town center in Bad Vilbel) project, a public library with gastronomy is being built across the River Nidda and is expected to be completed in spring 2013.
Following rapid progress on the buildings forming the base (basement floors and stair enclosures), three huge steel trusses were put into place on 25th and 26th August 2011. A 500-tonne crane rotated the trusses across the Nidda with great precision. To the amazement of local residents, who had turned out in large numbers to watch, the enormous steel elements were positioned on the base structures on both sides of the river, one after another exactly as planned.
To pre-assemble the three 40 meter long steel trusses, the entire area of the central car park in Bad Vilbel was required.
Although the completed building will appear very open due to its all-round glass façade, the tricky structural details will be mostly invisible since they will disappear into the concrete slabs. Only the diagonal beams, 350 mm in diameter, will remain visible in the two-storey building.
Following assembly of the steel trusses, including the crossbeams, the lower reinforced concrete slab will be used as a construction site access road over the Nidda for other measures in the „Neue Mitte“ project.
Until the library bridge opens, the citizens of Bad Vilbel can continue to admire this unusual bridge structure consisting of three steel trusses.
KREBS+KIEFER Ingenieure was responsible for HOAI Phases 1 to 6 of this project.
