Oberbaum Bridge, Double-deck bridge in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Germany.
Oberbaum Bridge is a double-deck road and rail crossing over the Spree between Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg. Its seven brick vaults span openings from 7.5 to 22 metres, and the upper deck carries the U1 and U3 lines. Two 34-metre brick towers flank the central arch, their spires bearing reliefs of the Berlin bear and the Brandenburg eagle.
The crossing opened in 1896 to link eastern suburbs with central Berlin. During the Cold War it served as a checkpoint between East and West, then underwent repairs after reunification.
The name comes from a tree trunk that once blocked the river for customs collection. Locals from both districts gather here for walks or photos, treating the red towers as a shared landmark.
Pedestrians and cyclists use dedicated paths along the sides while cars run below and metro trains pass above. A visit at sunset offers good views of the illuminated towers.
Since 1997 a neon work by Thorsten Goldberg, "Stone – Paper – Scissors", has been mounted on the bridge: two hands play the game, alluding to arbitrary decisions on immigration during the Cold War and for asylum seekers today. The four sandstone-clad support posts of the dismantled Stralauer Tor station still stand at the eastern end.
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