Slinky springs to fame

Slinky Springs to Fame is a pedestrian bridge spanning the Rhine-Herne Canal with 496 interconnected aluminum arches arranged in a spiral pattern along its length. It connects the Kaisergarten area to Emscher Island and features integrated lighting within its metal structures that activates at night.

The structure was completed in 2011 and emerged as part of the transformation of the area around the Ruhr Canal in Oberhausen. The spiral design was inspired by a popular toy from the 1940s.

Frankfurt-based artist Tobias Rehberger created this bridge as a public artwork that merges practical function with contemporary artistic thinking. The structure shows how infrastructure and art can coexist in urban spaces.

The bridge is freely accessible and provides a pleasant walking route across the canal with good lighting in evening hours. The level walking surface with varied color accents makes a stroll here a relaxed experience for all visitors.

The design references a metal toy that spirals when released down stairs and has fascinated millions of children worldwide. This playful reference makes the bridge more than just a functional crossing—it becomes a large-scale artwork that brings smiles to people's faces.