Renovation of the Gustav-Heinemann-Bridge is delayed — Essen-Werden on Baldeneysee

Essen, Baldeneysee, March 19, 2026. The planned renovation of the Gustav Heinemann Bridge is being postponed. The reason is pending water law permits from the Düsseldorf district government. The delay affects not only the local residents but also numerous commuters between Essen and Velbert: the federal highway B224 crosses the bridge and uses it to cross the Ruhr. It is one of the central traffic arteries in southern Essen – and is also in close proximity to the popular recreational area Baldeneysee.

Special permits are required for the renovation work, as part of the measures must be carried out from below the bridge. The procedure is more complex than expected because work is planned from the water. The existing weight restriction prevents the use of mobile work platforms on the bridge. Suspended scaffolding also cannot be anchored for structural reasons. Therefore, the teams have to work from the water or from the shore areas – an approach that requires particularly strict provisions for flood protection.

The Gustav Heinemann Bridge is an important traffic junction for the B224, which is used by many commuters daily. Delays in its renovation can therefore noticeably impact traffic flow. Furthermore, the bridge is located in close proximity to the Baldeneysee, one of the most popular excursion destinations in the Ruhr area. Restrictions could arise for walkers, cyclists, and water sports enthusiasts during the construction period – however, the exact effects will only be determined with the final construction schedule.

The focus is on reinforcing the edge area between the roadway and the sidewalk. To achieve this, asphalt and paving stones will first be removed, followed by drilling and the installation of additional tension elements to improve load-bearing capacity. In parallel, the tensioning steel in the roadway area will be further investigated. New findings indicate that the extensive reinforcements originally planned for the interior of the bridge are not necessary – a positive aspect that could potentially shorten the construction time.

The city of Essen expects the necessary permits to be issued promptly. After that, the tender for construction services is to begin. A construction start is currently planned for Autumn aimed for. The work is expected to take around seven months and will be carried out in several construction phases to minimize the impact on traffic. In recent days, one lane on the bridge in the direction of Velbert was repeatedly closed, which, even this afternoon, still led to a traffic jam extending uphill to the “Weg Zur Platte” Werden. As soon as the exact schedule is set, the city intends to provide comprehensive information on traffic management, restrictions, and potential impacts on the recreational area around the Baldeneysee inform. Baldeneysee.Ruhr stays on top of the matter and will keep you informed.