Lautertalbrücke, Steel girder bridge near Kaiserslautern, Germany
The Lautertalbrücke is a steel girder bridge that crosses the Lauter Valley near Kaiserslautern, serving as a key route for regional traffic. The structure carries the A6 Autobahn and connects the western and central parts of the city.
The original structure was built in 1937 as part of the Reichsautobahn project and destroyed in 1945 by German forces before American troops arrived in the area. The current bridge was completed in 2015, replacing an earlier structure that had been rebuilt after the war.
The original bridge pillars incorporated regional red sandstone cladding, reflecting the traditional building materials of Rhineland-Palatinate.
The crossing is part of the A6 Autobahn and carries constant traffic between city areas, so travel across the bridge is quick and direct. It is best to avoid the area during rush hours if you want to stop or take photographs.
The new bridge was built using shifted formwork technique, where the concrete mold is slowly moved during pouring to allow even construction. This method made it possible to build the bridge with minimal disruption to traffic below.
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