Rheinbrücke Emmerich

The Emmerich Rhine Bridge crosses the Rhine between Kleve and Emmerich, linking the Lower Rhine towns as part of the federal highway B220. This road bridge features two traffic lanes, two emergency lanes and pedestrian walkways on both sides, serving both regional and supra-regional traffic.

With a total length of 803 metres, it is the longest suspension bridge in Germany – a superlative that makes it an outstanding example of German structural engineering. Its main span of 500 metres is the largest ever realised in a German bridge. Two steel pylons, each 76 metres high, support the massive main cables. At 15-metre intervals, vertical hangers are suspended from these cables, which in turn support the steel bridge deck. The deck is 22.5 metres wide, providing ample space for flowing traffic as well as safe pedestrian passage.

The western approach to the bridge is via a 385-metre-long prestressed concrete viaduct – a structural contrast to the seemingly delicate suspension construction over the Rhine.

The Emmerich Rhine Bridge was built between 1962 and 1965 and is regarded as a technical masterpiece of its time. It was designed by the renowned engineering firm of Fritz Leonhardt, which was also involved in many other significant bridge projects in North Rhine-Westphalia. Its elegant silhouette and the clarity of the structural lines reflect the design quality of a concept that successfully combines functionality and aesthetics.

The bridge also plays a prominent role in the surrounding landscape: as a landmark visible from afar, it shapes the image of the Lower Rhine river scenery and stands as a symbol of the union between engineering excellence and regional identity.

Author: Editorial baukunst-nrw
Text last changed on 21.07.2025

Categories:
Engineering » Transportation