“The bridge has no problem”

Investigations on the old Main Bridge in Lohr in the past few days have sparked some discussions on social networks. But there is no cause for concern. “The bridge has no problem,” emphasized Alexander Müller, the new department head of bridge construction at the Würzburg State Building Authority, when asked.

According to Inge Schönmann from the city’s press office, it was a routine structural inspection that is due every three years. Furthermore, according to Schönmann’s information, the clearance height on the urban side (east bypass) was checked. That is part of the review.

Alexander Müller said that the test report was not yet available, but according to the testers, the bridge had not shown any abnormalities or problems. According to him, bridges have a main test every six years and a simple test at mid-term.

The old Main Bridge has belonged to the city of Lohr since October 1, 2018, after the necessary reclassification of the roads to and across the two Lohr Main Bridges was announced in the Bavarian State Gazette. After years of discussions, the city council agreed in 2017 to hand over the new Main Bridge, which had been renovated by the city, to the Free State of Bavaria and to take over the old Main Bridge, which was in need of renovation, in municipal ownership.

In the agreement with Lohr, the State Building Authority of Würzburg acknowledged its renovation obligations for the old Main Bridge. However, it is not clear when the structure, which was completed in 1875, will actually be renovated. The project has been postponed again and again in the past.

Even now, one cannot yet specify a time horizon, said Müller. Because a large number of authorities are involved in the renovation, such as the monument protection and the water management office. The redevelopment planning presented to the city council years ago is still up-to-date, but has been adapted to current requirements, such as the fact that the ships on the Main are getting bigger and bigger.

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