Fuß- und Radwegbrücke über die Rheinstraße, Pedestrian and bicycle bridge in Darmstadt, Germany

The Fuss- und Radwegbrücke is a crossing that connects the main railway station to the business district with a curved structure featuring V-shaped supports on both sides. Long spiral ramps allow comfortable access for cyclists and people with mobility needs to cross the main road.

Plans for a bridge date from 2005, when job growth in the Telekom-City area jammed the single pedestrian crossing at Rheinstraße/Zweifalltorweg. Netzwerkarchitekten won the competition that year, but financing problems and the discovery of the protected Heldbock beetle at the site forced a redesign, raising costs from 1.5 to 6.8 million euros. Construction began in October 2019; the bridge opened on 2 December 2020 without ceremony because of the pandemic.

The bridge's outer skin is a ribbed construction in matte grey, while the inside of the trough is painted bright red; LED lights are set into the stainless-steel handrails. The design by netzwerkarchitekten and TRAGRAUM Ingenieure received an acknowledgement at the Deutscher Architekturpreis 2021. The opening on 2 December 2020 was held without ceremony because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The structure is easily accessible through spacious ramps that provide gentle slopes for bicycles and wheelchairs, making the crossing possible without steep stairs. When it rains or conditions are wet, the ramps can become slippery, so caution is needed while riding or walking.

The bridge's outer skin is a rib construction in matte grey, while the inside of the trough is bright red; LED lights sit recessed in the stainless-steel handrails. The two spiral ramps differ markedly because of protected trees and neighbouring buildings on site. The design by netzwerkarchten and TRAGRAUM Ingenieure received an acknowledgement at the Deutscher Architekturpreis 2021.