Building a bridge often takes years. But a German company is changing that. Using a new fast-track method, the company can now build bridges in just a few weeks. This approach is faster, cleaner, and less disruptive for traffic. The German Ministry of Transport now wants to use this method for more bridge projects across the country.
The company, Estahoff Bau, recently built a small bridge in the city of Münster. It used a new modular system that speeds up work and lowers delays. Engineers say this new method could cut the average build time by 75%.
Udo Wessel, one of the engineers, said, “We worked around the clock. Instead of one and a half years, it took just seven weeks to build this bridge. It was hard, but I think this is the first time something like this has been done in Germany.”
The company uses a smart way to build. Most of the parts are made ahead of time in a safe indoor space called a precast plant. Then, large cranes bring those parts to the site and put them together. This way, bad weather does not slow the work. They even created a special concrete for this method.
Teo Redemann, managing director at Estahoff Bau, said, “About 85% of the bridge is made ahead of time. We don’t worry about rain or extreme heat. We work indoors and avoid delays. Once the site is ready, we bring the parts and put them in place quickly.”
This process also causes less traffic trouble. In normal bridge projects, roads are closed for a long time. That leads to long traffic jams and more pollution. But the fast method needs only a short road closure, so fewer cars are stuck.
Studies show that this new method is better for the environment too. Aachen University made a computer model to study the effect of traffic jams during road work. They found that normal methods release up to 81,000 tons of CO₂. But the fast-track method cuts that to just 28,000 tons — a 65% drop.
Dr. Dirk Kemper from Aachen University said, “You can plan your work and check which lanes will be open. The system will show how much traffic and pollution there will be.”
Germany has many old bridges. More than half were built before 1985. Today, more cars and trucks use them. Each bridge is checked every six years. One in four gets only a fair rating. Some damage is hidden and hard to spot. Depending on its size, a new bridge can take up to five years to build using old methods.
In 2023, German roads saw about 427,000 hours of traffic jams. This new method can help fix that. Since the work is short, drivers do not have to spend hours in traffic.
Redemann said, “The key is good planning. Then we go to the site, do the work fast, and leave. That’s how we avoid long road closures.”
So far, the fast-track method has been used in about 20 bridge projects. Some were finished in record time. The Transport Ministry now wants to use it more often.
This method brings many clear benefits: less traffic, less pollution, and faster results. It is now helping to fix and replace old, worn-out bridges across Germany.