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Hamburg moves 108‑metre steel Sternbrücke through Altona streets
A 108‑metre long, 21‑metre high steel bridge, dubbed the new Sternbrücke, is being transferred through Hamburg’s Altona district along the Max‑Brauer‑Allee. The 3,700‑tonne structure is carried on 48 self‑propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) with a total of 1,088 steerable wheels, moving at roughly one kilometre per hour. The route required the street to be raised about 60 cm, reinforced with steel plates, the cutting of streetlights, the removal of a tank‑station canopy and the felling of 86 trees. The tightest clearances were only 40 cm at a balcony, with other gaps of 80–90 cm.
The operation began on 29 July 2026 and, after a brief delay, is expected to be completed by the end of August, when the bridge will be lifted to a six‑metre height and set on concrete pads. Subsequent work will install ballast, tracks, overhead lines and signals before railway traffic resumes. Project leader Janna Widmaier of Deutsche Bahn coordinated the effort with Dutch heavy‑haul firm Mammoet and the DB subsidiary InfraGo. Hundreds of residents watched the manoeuvre, some being offered hotel rooms and safety posts during the temporary disruption.
Entities
Anjes Tjarks · Deutsche Bahn · Deutsche Bahn InfraGO · German railway network · Hamburg · InfraGo · Janna Widmaier · Lars de Haas · Mammoet · Max‑Brauer‑Allee · Sternbrücke · Sternbrücke
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 11 SOURCES] Transport of the bridge began on Wednesday, 29 July 2026, one day earlier than planned. www.hamburg-zwei.de · hamburg.t-online.de · www.tagesschau.de · www.radiohamburg.de · www.n-tv.de · +4 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] The transport speed was about one kilometre per hour. hamburg.t-online.de · www.tagesschau.de · www.radiohamburg.de · www.hamburg-zwei.de · www.n-tv.de · +4 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] The narrowest clearance during transport was 40 cm at a balcony; other clearances were 80–90 cm. hamburg.t-online.de · www.tagesschau.de · www.radiohamburg.de · www.n-tv.de · www.hamburg-zwei.de · +5 more
- [● 14 SOURCES] The bridge will be lifted to about six metres high using hydraulic cylinders. www.hamburg-zwei.de · hamburg.t-online.de · www.tagesschau.de · www.radiohamburg.de · www.n-tv.de · +6 more
- [● 14 SOURCES] The bridge weighs roughly 3,685 to 3,700 tonnes of steel. www.hamburg-zwei.de · hamburg.t-online.de · www.tagesschau.de · www.radiohamburg.de · www.n-tv.de · +6 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] Residents along the transport route have been temporarily housed in hotels and safety posts installed. hamburg.t-online.de · www.tagesschau.de · www.radiohamburg.de · www.hamburg-zwei.de · www.n-tv.de · +1 more
- [● 11 SOURCES] Railway traffic is scheduled to resume at the end of August. www.hamburg-zwei.de · hamburg.t-online.de · www.tagesschau.de · www.radiohamburg.de · www.n-tv.de · +4 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] The new Sternbrücke is 108 metres long and 21 metres high. www.hamburg-zwei.de · hamburg.t-online.de · www.tagesschau.de · www.radiohamburg.de · www.n-tv.de · +5 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] The bridge is moved on 48 self‑propelled modular transporters with a total of 1,088 steerable wheels. hamburg.t-online.de · www.tagesschau.de · www.radiohamburg.de · www.n-tv.de · www.hamburg-zwei.de · +4 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] Eighty‑six trees were felled and street lanterns removed to clear the transport route. hamburg.t-online.de · www.tagesschau.de · www.radiohamburg.de · www.n-tv.de · www.hamburg-zwei.de · +4 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] Max‑Brauer‑Allee was raised by about 60 cm and reinforced with steel plates for the transport. hamburg.t-online.de · www.tagesschau.de · www.zeit.de · www.radiohamburg.de · www.n-tv.de · +2 more