Bernburg/Groß Rosenburg. To ensure that the new cycle bridge over the Saale near Groß Rosenburg can be built next year with the confirmed federal funding and opened to the public in 2027, the Salzlandkreis has brought the relevant parties together for the next step in the planning process. The relevant departments of the Salzlandkreis have now met for the first time with representatives of the State Agency for Flood Protection and Water Management, the Magdeburg Waterways and Shipping Authority, and the Mayor of Barby, Dr Jörn Weinert.
The basis for the approval planning is the design plan. The Magdeburg engineering firm Gnade submitted it to the Salzland district and ultimately developed one of six variants, for which around 4.8 million euros in funding was approved. The money for the project "NKI: Bicycle bridge over the Saale and sustainable mobility options in the municipality of Barby/ Groß Rosenburg" was provided by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection from the "Climate protection through cycling" funding programme. This is because exemplary regional investment projects for climate protection are to be supported by strengthening cycling.
One such model investment project is the cycle bridge that connects the districts of Groß Rosenburg and Tornitz in Barby, which are separated by the River Saale. The Salzland district developed it together with the town of Barby in order to improve mobility in the Elbe-Saale region in an effective and climate-friendly way. Experts have calculated that the project can save around 460 kilometres of car journeys per day and more than 14 tonnes of greenhouse gases per year. After the extensive preparatory work, the region was delighted when the positive decision was received from Berlin for the first project in Saxony-Anhalt to be funded by the National Climate Protection Programme.
"Another successful step for our work and the district's strategic goals of thinking about and advancing climate protection and development in rural areas together," says District Administrator Markus Bauer, adding: "We in the administration provide manpower, utilise the expertise, including that of our partners, and the potential finances in such a way that the people in our towns and villages feel the benefits directly."
The new steel truss bridge for cyclists and pedestrians, one of the largest cycle bridges in Germany at 275 metres in length, will span the Saale near Groß Rosenburg and connect to the Saale cycle path on both sides, independently of the ferry service offered by the town of Barby. The project will also create bicycle service stations at the Sachsendorf and Gnadau railway stations, making it easier for commuters in particular to switch to bikes.
As things stand, the Salzlandkreis is set to invest around 7 million euros in the project, including planning costs, with 4.8 million euros coming from grant funding. Through this project, it is implementing objectives set out in its climate protection plan and the Salzlandkreis 2030 strategy. The Salzlandkreis has set up a dedicated project page for the Groß Rosenburg cycle bridge on its website. Interested parties can find information there at any time, including updates on the progress of planning and construction in the future.