Levensau High Bridge, Railway and road bridge in Kiel, Germany
The Levensau High Bridge is a railway and road bridge spanning the Nord-Ostsee-Kanal near Kiel, rising about 42 meters above the water with its arched design. The structure carries traffic on two levels: rail traffic on the upper deck and road and pedestrian traffic on the lower deck.
Construction took place between 1893 and 1894 after Kaiser Wilhelm I rejected the original idea of a rotating bridge. This decision led to the creation of a fixed arch bridge that has shaped the landscape ever since.
The bridge takes its name from Levensau, a village nearby that is now part of Kiel. For many decades, it served as a gathering point where people from both sides of the canal met while traveling through the region.
Visitors can cross on foot or by bicycle and enjoy views of the canal from both sides of the crossing. It is best to walk during off-peak hours, as road traffic can be heavy, especially during holiday periods.
With a span of 163 meters, it is the largest original bridge over the canal and received praise from the Kaiser himself. This makes it a technical milestone that few visitors recognize as such when crossing.
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