Köhlbrandbrücke

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The Köhlbrandbrücke is a cable-stayed bridge in Hamburg, Germany which connects the harbour area between the Norderelbe and Süderelbe branches of the Elbe river with motorway A7 (exit Waltershof). It bridges the Köhlbrand, which is part of the Süderelbe branch. It was opened on 9 September 1974.

Köhlbrandtbrücke
Köhlbrandtbrücke in the port of Hamburg
Carries	Cars
Crosses	Köhlbrandt, part of the river Süderelbe
Locale	Hamburg, Germany
Design	Cable-stayed bridge
Longest span	325 m
Total length	3,618 m
Width	17,5 m
Height	135 m
Vertical clearance	53 m
Clearance below	135 m above middle tiede
AADT	30,000 cars
Beginning date of construction	1970
Completion date	1974
Opening date	September 20, 1974
Destruction date	approx 2028^[1]
Toll	free

The bridge is made of 88 steel cables (each of a diameter of 10 centimetres). It is 3,940 metres long, the centre piece 325 metres. It is carried by 75 pylons (the highest one of height 135 metres) and reaches a height of 55 metres to allow ships pass underneath it, even at high tide. The road has an inclination of 4%.

View westward on Köhlbrandbrücke.

The bridge is made from about 81,000 cubic metres of concrete and 12,700 tonnes of steel. Each day, about 30,000 cars pass over the bridge. It took 4 years to build it, its total cost being 160 Million DM.

The bridge was designed by Hans Wittfoht and Egon Jux.

Since it's opening the bridge has only twice been open to pedestrians, on the opening day 1974 and on its 30th birthday in 2004. The magnificent view over the city of Hamburg is however not completely limited to the drivers of cars and trucks. The bridge is on route of Hamburg's yearly UCI ProTour bicycle race Vattenfall Cyclassics. Quite a number of the amateurs participating in this race make a stop on top of the Köhlbrandbrücke.

Several people have committed suicide by jumping from the Köhlbrandbrücke.