Visit of construction site at the Rälsbach and Rinsdorf viaducts

On the German motorway A45, all major viaducts will have to be replaced by new constructions in the next few years. In the area of Wilnsdorf there are the two viaducts Rinsdorf and Rälsbach, which are currently under construction.

The Rälsbach viaduct is a 175-metre long prestressed concrete bridge, which was built in sections on a supporting structure. The partial structure for the roadway in direction of Dortmund is currently being manufactured, after the existing structure has already been blown up.

The Rinsdorf viaduct is 485 metres long, has a maximum span of 100 metres and is planned as a steel composite hollow box bridge. A striking feature is the hollow box girder placed inwards with the outer diagonals. Very impressive are the up to 60 meter high piers in the valley area. The bridge will be constructed using the incremental launching method, for which the steel structure will be mounted behind the eastern abutment and shifted longitudinally in sections.

On 22.07.2019, the first major shift of the steel structure over a length of approx. 50 metres took place, during which some KREBS+KIEFER employees were on site to inspect the action planned in the office.

In order to reduce the amount of space required, the partial structure for the Dortmund direction is being manufactured in a lateral position next to the existing structure. After completion of this partial structure, traffic will be transferred to the new structure and the existing structure will be blown up. Afterwards, the second part of the structure in the direction of Frankfurt can be erected approximately in the position of the existing structure and traffic on the A45 motorway can be transferred to this part of the structure. As a crowning finale, the partial structure in the direction of Dortmund with the up to 60-metre high piers will be moved transversally for about 20 metres. Such a shifting of a large viaduct at the foundation level is unique to date, and KREBS+KIEFER is proud to have been involved in the design and planning of this transversal motion.

KREBS+KIEFER is involved in many structures on the A45 motorway in Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia, and at the construction phase for the replacement of the Rälsbach and Rinsdorf viaducts it is responsible for the structural design, the demolition concepts, the health and safety protection services in the planning phase, the tender documents, the pioneer road planning and the traffic management during the works. In addition, the concept and an in-depth feasibility study for the transversal shift were prepared. KREBS+KIEFER is currently working on the contractual and geometric inspection on behalf of Straßen.NRW.