Schnettkerbrücke

The Schnettkerbrücke is a road bridge crossing the Emscher Valley with a span of 328 meters and six traffic lanes. The structure features a red steel arch 28 meters high and is equipped with noise barriers along its sides.

Construction began before World War I, but the structure was not completed until 1931 as a riveted steel truss bridge. It then shaped regional transportation connections for many decades afterward.

The bridge takes its name from the former Am Schnettker farm that once stood in the Schönau district near this location. Today that name serves as a reminder of the rural past of what is now an urban area.

The bridge connects to the A40 federal highway and allows vehicles to travel at speeds up to 100 kilometers per hour. Its solid connection to the highway network makes it an important traffic route for the region.

During construction work on the new exit 44 near the bridge, workers discovered fossilized remains of a prehistoric predatory dinosaur. The discovery gave insight into the geological history of the region from a distant past.