Diffenébrücke, Steel bascule bridge in Luzenberg district, Mannheim, Germany
The Diffenébrücke is a steel bascule bridge in the Luzenberg district that carries both rail and road traffic across the Rhine. It features separate sections for each traffic type, with a lifting system managed by red steel counterweights.
An original swing bridge from 1902 connected the industrial port area and supported manufacturing growth in the city. The current structure was built in 1988 to replace that earlier construction.
The bridge is named after Philipp Diffené, a Chamber of Commerce president who championed industrial expansion in Mannheim during the early 1900s. His legacy remains connected to this transport link that still serves the port area.
Pedestrians and cyclists can use the bridge when it is not raised for traffic passage. Visitors should be aware that access closures may occur when the lifting mechanism is in operation.
The lifting mechanism is powered by three electric motors of 120 horsepower each and can be controlled remotely from Käfertal station. This automated remote operation was a technical innovation when the bridge first opened.
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