Strelasund Crossing is the two links to the German island of
Rügen
Rügen (; la, Rugia, ) is Germany's largest island. It is located off the Pomeranian coast in the Baltic Sea and belongs to the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
The "gateway" to Rügen island is the Hanseatic city of Stralsund, where ...
(''Rugia'') over the
Strelasund
The Strelasund or Strela Sound is a sound or lagoon of the Baltic Sea which separates Rügen from the German mainland. It is crossed by a road and rail bridge called the Rügendamm in Stralsund. It runs northwest to southeast from a small shallow ...
to the West Pomeranian mainland near
Stralsund: the Rügen Bridge or Rugia Bridge (german: links=no, Rügenbrücke) and the Rugia Causeway (german: links=no, Rügendamm).
Ferry services between Stralsund and
Altefähr
Altefähr is a municipality in the Vorpommern-Rügen district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.
Transport
* Altefähr railway station is served by local services between Rostock, Stralsund and Sassnitz
Sassnitz (, before 1993 in german: ...
and between Stahlbrode and
Glewitz are also available to cross the Strelasund sound.
The ''Rügendamm'' was the first fixed crossing over the sound of Strelasund, for both the old
Bundesstraße 96
The Bundesstraße 96 (B 96) is a federal highway in Germany. It begins in Zittau in Saxony, close to the border triangle between Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic, heads north through Berlin and ends in Sassnitz on the island of Rügen in th ...
, the
Stralsund–Sassnitz railway and a combined footpath and cycle path. It was completed 1936/1937.
''Rügenbrücke'' is the name of the three-lane viaduct completed in 2007 exclusively for motor traffic, between the village of
Altefähr
Altefähr is a municipality in the Vorpommern-Rügen district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.
Transport
* Altefähr railway station is served by local services between Rostock, Stralsund and Sassnitz
Sassnitz (, before 1993 in german: ...
on
Rugia Island and the
Hanseatic
The Hanseatic League (; gml, Hanse, , ; german: label=German language, Modern German, Deutsche Hanse) was a Middle Ages, medieval commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns in Central Europe, Central and Norther ...
and
world heritage
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for ...
town of
Stralsund; as part of the concept to turn the
B96 and
European route E22
European route E22 is one of the longest European routes. It has a length of about . Many of the E-roads have been extended into Asia since the year 2000; the E22 was extended on 24 June 2002.
Route
United Kingdom
Port of Holyhead ()
*: ...
into a
ring road. Both bridges are operated in parallel. The Rugia Bridge has an overall length of , which makes it one of Central Europe's largest bridges.
Bridge crossings
Rügen Bridge
![2005-11-05, Stralsund, Rügenbrücke, Verlauf auf Stralsunder Seite](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/2005-11-05%2C_Stralsund%2C_R%C3%BCgenbr%C3%BCcke%2C_Verlauf_auf_Stralsunder_Seite.jpg)
Rügen Bridge (german: links=no, Rügenbrücke) is a
cable-stayed bridge
A cable-stayed bridge has one or more ''towers'' (or ''pylons''), from which cables support the bridge deck. A distinctive feature are the cables or stays, which run directly from the tower to the deck, normally forming a fan-like pattern ...
made of
pre-stressed concrete
Prestressed concrete is a form of concrete used in construction. It is substantially "prestressed" ( compressed) during production, in a manner that strengthens it against tensile forces which will exist when in service. Post-tensioned concreted i ...
that spans the
Strelasund
The Strelasund or Strela Sound is a sound or lagoon of the Baltic Sea which separates Rügen from the German mainland. It is crossed by a road and rail bridge called the Rügendamm in Stralsund. It runs northwest to southeast from a small shallow ...
between the city of Stralsund and the island of Rügen. The bridge was built to replace the aging ''Rügendamm'', which will remain in service to provide a rail link and serve local traffic to
Dänholm
Dänholm (literally ''Danes' Isle'') is a small island on the German coast of the Baltic Sea. It is situated in the Strelasund just east of Stralsund. Both bridges linking Rügen with the mainland, Rügendamm and Rügenbrücke, run across it. ...
island. The bridge has three lanes, the centre one being demand-activated. The main element of the 4,100 metre crossing is the 2,831 metre-long main span over the Strelasund.
The crossing comprises a total of seven sections, five of which are bridge structures:
* Embankment on the mainland side in Stralsund,
* Two approach bridges in Stralsund,
* Viaduct over the Ziegelgraben,
* Dänholm approach bridge,
* Strelasund approach bridge,
* Strelasund Bridge, and
* Embankment on the island of Rügen.
Southern ramp
![2005-11-12, Stralsund, Rügenbrücke, Träger auf Stralsunder Seite, Haus am Rügendamm](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/2005-11-12%2C_Stralsund%2C_R%C3%BCgenbr%C3%BCcke%2C_Tr%C3%A4ger_auf_Stralsunder_Seite%2C_Haus_am_R%C3%BCgendamm.jpg)
The southern bridge ramp begins behind its junction with the Stralsund ring road (the
B 96 federal road) and consists, of an 85.53-metre-long embankment structure, measured to the
abutment
An abutment is the substructure at the ends of a bridge span or dam supporting its superstructure. Single-span bridges have abutments at each end which provide vertical and lateral support for the span, as well as acting as retaining walls ...
of the first approach bridge. Beyond it are the two Stralsund approach bridges (''Vorlandbrücken Stralsund'') with gradients of up to 4%. The first, structure BW 1.1, is 327.5-metre-long bridge made of pre-stressed concrete with ten sections and a twin
prestressed beam slab girder as the superstructure. BW 1.2 is a 317.0-metre-long bridge with six sections and a single-cell steel composite superstructure that was manufactured by the steelworks in
Neumarkt-Sengenthal. An architectural feature is the B 96 approach road section with its two pairs of Y-supports, which enable the large column spacing of 72 metres at constant height. The railings of the approach bridges have 0.70-metre-high inside walls with laminated safety glass panels as wind deflectors and spray shields. The structures are founded on driven concrete
piles cast in-situ.
New Ziegelgraben Bridge (viaduct)
![Ruegenbruecke unter den Pylonen](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Ruegenbruecke_unter_den_Pylonen.jpg)
The new ''Ziegelgraben Bridge'' (BW 2), designed as a viaduct, crosses the waterway of the ''Ziegelgraben'', an arm of the
Strelasund
The Strelasund or Strela Sound is a sound or lagoon of the Baltic Sea which separates Rügen from the German mainland. It is crossed by a road and rail bridge called the Rügendamm in Stralsund. It runs northwest to southeast from a small shallow ...
which separates Stralsund from the island of
Dänholm
Dänholm (literally ''Danes' Isle'') is a small island on the German coast of the Baltic Sea. It is situated in the Strelasund just east of Stralsund. Both bridges linking Rügen with the mainland, Rügendamm and Rügenbrücke, run across it. ...
. It has a length of 583.30 metres. The two main section, 126 metres (on the mainland side) and 198 metres (on the Dänholm side), are designed as a
cable-stayed bridge
A cable-stayed bridge has one or more ''towers'' (or ''pylons''), from which cables support the bridge deck. A distinctive feature are the cables or stays, which run directly from the tower to the deck, normally forming a fan-like pattern ...
with a three-cell steel box girder frame, which was made in the Neumarkt-Sengenthal steelworks. The bridge enables shipping to pass with a clearance of 42 metres.
The 128-metre-high, light blue
pylon is divided into two parts: an approximately 40-metre-high base of
concrete
Concrete is a composite material composed of fine and coarse aggregate bonded together with a fluid cement (cement paste) that hardens (cures) over time. Concrete is the second-most-used substance in the world after water, and is the most wid ...
and an upper part of
steel. The superstructure is separated from the base by bridge bearings. The base of the main pillar consists of 40 bored pilings with a 1.5 metre diameter. 32 harp-shaped, diagonally tensioned steel cables suspend the two main openings from the drop-shaped pylon.
![2005-11-12, Stralsund, Rügenbrücke, Muster der Stahlseile](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/2005-11-12%2C_Stralsund%2C_R%C3%BCgenbr%C3%BCcke%2C_Muster_der_Stahlseile.jpg)
Rügen Bridge is fitted with suspension cables using a system unique in Germany, whereby they are triple-protected from corrosion: first the cables are
galvanized
Galvanization or galvanizing ( also spelled galvanisation or galvanising) is the process of applying a protective zinc coating to steel or iron, to prevent rusting. The most common method is hot-dip galvanizing, in which the parts are submerged ...
, secondly they are covered with a coating of
polyethylene
Polyethylene or polythene (abbreviated PE; IUPAC name polyethene or poly(methylene)) is the most commonly produced plastic. It is a polymer, primarily used for packaging ( plastic bags, plastic films, geomembranes and containers including b ...
, and finally with special wax as well. The cables were tested for a year at the
Technical University of Munich
The Technical University of Munich (TUM or TU Munich; german: Technische Universität München) is a public research university in Munich, Germany. It specializes in engineering, technology, medicine, and applied and natural sciences.
Establis ...
, and finally approved by the Federal Ministry. The steel cables, with a total mass of up to 135 tons, consist of 34 individual strands that are bundled into a sheath to form a single cable with a diameter of 180 mm. They are rated for a tension of 4000
kN.
The railings of the new Ziegelgraben Bridge have a inside lining with laminated safety glass as a wind deflector.
Northern bridge ramp
![Stralsund, Strelasundquerung, Dänholm und Strelasundbrücke (2007-06-11)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/Stralsund%2C_Strelasundquerung%2C_D%C3%A4nholm_und_Strelasundbr%C3%BCcke_%282007-06-11%29.JPG)
The northern bridge ramp consists of three bridges, an embankment and a road section.
After the main bridge comes the Dänholm approach bridge (''Vorlandbrücke Dänholm'', BW 3), a 532.3-metre-long approach bridge structure, and the Strelasund approach bridge (''Vorlandbrücke Strelasund'', BW 4), with a length of 532.2 metres. Both structures have a 10-section, single-cell pre-stressed box girder superstructure and are anchored on bored pilings made of cast-in-place concrete. The railings of the Dänholm bridge are designed with a internal lining of laminated safety glass as a wind deflector.
The final bridge structure is the 539.0-metre-long Strelasund Bridge (''Strelasundbrücke'', BW 5). This also has a single-cell prestressed concrete box girder superstructure. The last section of the Strelasund Crossing runs down another embankment. The length of this embankment is 455.95 metres, beyond that is a further 732.0 metres of roadway. Filled with 225,000 m
3 of earth, the ramp sides have sheet pilings covering an area of 20,690 m
2, that runs up to the junction of the crossing with the transport hub of Altefähr. In this area there is a cycle path underpass.
Rügen Causeway
Rügen Causeway (''Rügendamm'', literally "Rügen Embankment") is the name of the original road connecting
Rügen
Rügen (; la, Rugia, ) is Germany's largest island. It is located off the Pomeranian coast in the Baltic Sea and belongs to the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
The "gateway" to Rügen island is the Hanseatic city of Stralsund, where ...
Island with the City of
Stralsund on the mainland of the
German state of
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (MV; ; nds, Mäkelborg-Vörpommern), also known by its anglicized name Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania, is a state in the north-east of Germany. Of the country's sixteen states, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern ranks 14th in po ...
. The road was built in the 1930s and opened in October 1936. The ''Rügendamm'' consists of two parts:
* Strelasund Bridge is a bridge and
causeway spanning the
Strelasund
The Strelasund or Strela Sound is a sound or lagoon of the Baltic Sea which separates Rügen from the German mainland. It is crossed by a road and rail bridge called the Rügendamm in Stralsund. It runs northwest to southeast from a small shallow ...
and
* Ziegelgraben Bridge, a
bascule bridge
A bascule bridge (also referred to as a drawbridge or a lifting bridge) is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances a span, or leaf, throughout its upward swing to provide clearance for boat traffic. It may be single- o ...
over the ''Ziegelgraben'' stream. This bridge opens several times a day to allow for the passage of large ships. Prior to the construction of the new Rügen Bridge, the drawbridge bridge was a source of major traffic congestion.
The ''Rügendamm'' provides the only road and rail access to
Dänholm
Dänholm (literally ''Danes' Isle'') is a small island on the German coast of the Baltic Sea. It is situated in the Strelasund just east of Stralsund. Both bridges linking Rügen with the mainland, Rügendamm and Rügenbrücke, run across it. ...
island.
Ferry crossings
Between Stralsund and Altefähr there is also a ferry crossing operated by small passenger ships, which are used exclusively for foot passengers. It is operated by the ''
Weiße Flotte''.
History
For thousands of years the Strelasund has separated the island of Rügen from what is today the West Pomeranian mainland. For at least seven millennia, people have settled on the island, establishing their holy sites here too, such as the Swantevit site at
Cape Arkona
Cape Arkona () is a 45-metre (150-foot) high cape on the island of Rügen in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It forms the tip of the Wittow peninsula, just a few kilometres north of the Jasmund National Park. The protected landscape of Cape Arko ...
. From the 12th century,
Christianity
Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global pop ...
spread to the island. The pagan sites fell into ruins or were slighted. These sites had previously been a destination for many pilgrims also from the mainland. They used boats to cross the sound; boats were also used for trade between the island and the mainland.
Old ferry
The strait was crossed at many different places, because the island lies within sight of the mainland coast along a long stretch. The shortest distance, however, was between the sites of the modern town of Stralsund and the village of Altefähr. This point was also very conveniently situated because of the intermediate island of Stralow (later called Dänholm). From here a regular ferry service evolved; around 1000 or 1100
herring was already being traded here and, during excavations on the island of Rügen, even Arabic coins were found.
The two ferry stages developed into larger settlements following the arrival of Christianity brought by the Danes. In particular, the ferry village of Stralow (''stral'' means 'arrow' in Middle Low German and Slavic) developed rapidly. At the beginning of the 13th century more and more settlers came, ''inter alia'' from
Westphalia
Westphalia (; german: Westfalen ; nds, Westfalen ) is a region of northwestern Germany and one of the three historic parts of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It has an area of and 7.9 million inhabitants.
The territory of the regio ...
. Their settlement was encouraged by the princes of Rügen and in 1234 Prince
Wizlaw I gave
town rights
Town privileges or borough rights were important features of European towns during most of the second millennium. The city law customary in Central Europe probably dates back to Italian models, which in turn were oriented towards the tradition ...
to Stralow. The ferry service to Alte Fähre ('Old Ferry') as the place on Rügen was named was becoming increasingly important; more and more goods and wares were traded over the crossing. In 1293 Stralsund became a member of the
Hanseatic League and the movement of goods between the island of Rügen and the mainland grew in importance and scope.
Dänholm Ferry
A ferry between Dänholm and the mainland site of Stralsund was predominantly used by the military. It was established in mid-July 1935, after the completion of the Ziegelgraben Bridge for road traffic.
2nd Strelasund Crossing
In 2004, construction of a new bridge, called the 2nd Strelasund Crossing (''2. Strelasundquerung''), commenced. German Chancellor
Angela Merkel
Angela Dorothea Merkel (; ; born 17 July 1954) is a German former politician and scientist who served as Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021. A member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), she previously served as Leader of the Opp ...
opened the new bridge on 20 October 2007. The name of this new bridge is the Rügen Bridge (''Rügenbrücke''). The rugen bridge is a one tower suspension bridge that has nineteen piers holding it up from the water. The connection has a length of , the new bridge is long and the centre pylon is tall. The new bridge crosses but does not provide access to
Dänholm
Dänholm (literally ''Danes' Isle'') is a small island on the German coast of the Baltic Sea. It is situated in the Strelasund just east of Stralsund. Both bridges linking Rügen with the mainland, Rügendamm and Rügenbrücke, run across it. ...
island.
Citations
Literature
* Horst Auerbach (Red.): ''Von den Postseglern nach Schweden zur Hochbrücke über den Strelasund''. Schriftenreihe des Marinemuseums Dänholm, H. 9, Förderverein des Marinemuseums Dänholm e. V., Stralsund, 2004.
* Herbert Ewe: ''Geschichte der Hansestadt Stralsund''. H. Böhlaus Nachf., Weimar 1984, 1985.
* Herbert Ewe: ''Stralsund''. Carl Hinstorff, Rostock 1965, 1987,
* Herbert Ewe, Harry Hardenberg, Günter Ewald: ''Stralsund. Die Stadt am Meer''. Carl Hinstorff, Rostock, 1997,
* [ftp://ftp2.stahl-online.de/bms/download/publikationen/presse/stahlbautag2004/Vortragsreihe_II.pdf Karl Kleinhanß: ''Die 2. Strelasundquerung – "Das neue Tor nach Rügen". Tagungsband für Stahlbautag 2004]
Martin Steinkühler: ''Bau der 2. Strelasundquerung''. In:''Tiefbau'', Vol. 4, 118. Jahrgang, April 2006, p. 186-191(pdf file; 5.11 MB)
* Wolfgang Rudolph: ''Stralsund. Die Stadt am Meer''. edited by Käthe Miethe. Carl Hinstorff, Rostock, 1955.
External links
{{Commons category, Strelasundquerung
2. Strelasund Crossing – description in English
Stralsund
Road-rail bridges
Buildings and structures in Vorpommern-Rügen
Cable-stayed bridges in Germany
Bridges completed in 1936
Bridges completed in 2007
Road bridges in Germany
Railway bridges in Germany
Rügen