Drehbrücke über den Geestemünder Hauptkanal, road bridge
The rotating bridge over the Geestemünder main canal is a steel road bridge with two sections that can pivot around a central pillar to allow ships to pass. It spans approximately 45 meters and rests on three stone pillars, with a large round base in the middle of the canal supporting the rotating mechanism with wheels.
The main canal and the bridge were built between 1857 and 1862 to develop Geestemünde as a port city alongside the older Bremerhaven. Engineer Heinrich Adolf Buchholz designed the rotating bridge in 1861, which was operated by hand until an electric motor was installed in 1931.
The rotating mechanism of the bridge represents 19th-century engineering craftsmanship visible in its riveted metal construction. When boats pass through and the structure turns, it shows how maritime activity and daily traffic still connect in this harbor neighborhood.
The bridge is now mainly used by cyclists and pedestrians and provides a quiet passage to the fishing harbor area. You can watch the opening process when boats from the yacht club pass through and see how the old mechanism still works in practice.
The bridge was originally operated by three workers pushing by hand and needed only a few minutes for a full opening. This makes it one of the oldest still-functioning rotating bridges in Germany and demonstrates how simple mechanics can remain reliable over time.
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