Wiehltal bridge
The Wiehltal bridge is a highway bridge of the motorway A4 between Cologne and Olpe over the Wiehltal at Engelskirchen (Oberbergischer Kreis), North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is 30.25 m wide, 705 m long and has a bridge surface of 21.326 mē. The largest height over ground is 60 m. It consists completely of a steelwork construction, whose rolling-element bearing rest on concrete pillars. In contrast to similar brdiges the roadways of both driving directions are carried by continuous elements. The construction of the bridge was finished in 1971.
Heavy Accident
Wiehltalbruecke 26.08.04, which exploded fuel-truck-and-trailer rig beside the neighbouring house to 26 August 2004 at 10:40 o'clock fell due to a heavy accident with 32.000 litres fuel of loaded tank trucks of the bridge and exploded. The guard rails and the fangseile let in there could not catch the truck, since they are appropriate only for vehicles up to maximally 13 tons. The driver died with the explosion. With afterwards broken off the fire in approximately 30 meters distance to the next houses only one bienenhaus was destroyed, but it damages parts of the bridge in consequence of the heat in such a manner that the bridge had to become closed because of load-carrying capacity lacking.
Repair after a provisional repair in the autumn 2004 is planned a comprehensive reorganization for the spring 2005. A complete new building from economic considerations is discussed at present. The residents of Munich back, which adjusts the damage for Asstel (Gothaer), counts according to own data at present on a reorganization expenditure of 32 million euro. If the present bridge is cleared away and again established, costs at a value of 250 million euro could arise. The covering sum for the insured vehicle was unlimited. The authorities operate for the scenario of a new building up-to-date with a sum of 80 million euro, whereby a parallel new building or a temporary auxiliary bridge is pulled in the calculation. In these cases is to be counted on the outline of numerous family houses in the proximity of the bridge. In any case one will concern it the so far most expensive traffic accident in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany. Starting from 07.10.2004 traffic flows again, although reduced, over the provisional repaired bridge.
Public Reactions Sympathy at the death of the 34-jaehrigen of driver, who leaves woman and two daughters, also still weeks were high after the misfortune surprisingly. From a nachbarschaftlichen collection a supraregional donation action developed, to which also in the InterNet one called. Approximately 20,000 euro could be collected for the family, which wants to develop itself far the misfortune place a new life. To it also Benefiz sport Events of public sponsors contributed. The village community, direct adjoining owner of the misfortune place, plans, to establish a durable monument.
Competence the Wiehltalbruecke lies in North Rhine-Westphalia. Therefore the national enterprise road construction North Rhine-Westphalia is responsible for the maintenance. It coordinates also the at present necessary measures of reorganization at the strongly damaged bridge. For this the provisional repair with 27 additional stealing vines and the Auskofferung from so far approximately 10,000 tons contaminated soil count. Source: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiehltalbr%C3%BCcke
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