In in Kiel is due to begin in the week commencing 2 November 2026, with the dismantling of the movable central section of Hörn Bridge at the Hörn. According to the City of Kiel a specialist floating crane will be used to lift the structure and load it onto a pontoon. The section is then to be taken to Flensburg and reused there at the museum harbour without its opening mechanism. The work is weather-dependent; areas around the site will be closed temporarily during lifting and loading operations.
The city had put the contract out to tender across Europe. The contract was awarded to Deutsch-Dänische Wasserbau GmbH from Arnis. The published contract value for the dismantling is around 225,000 euros. According to the city, the so-called three-span bascule bridge, which opened in 1997, had been partly out of service since October 2025. Inspections reportedly found significant technical damage and that it had reached the end of its intended service life. It was not considered economically viable to put it back into service; refurbishment costs were expected to be substantially higher than removal, and reliable operation could not be guaranteed.
The structure will be transported across the Baltic Sea. After being loaded in Kiel, it is due to stop in Arnis before the bridge section continues on to Flensburg. In Kiel, alternative routes for pedestrians and cyclists will remain available during the work. According to the city, the temporary replacement bridge will initially remain in service, although it is narrower and has limited suitability for bicycles and small electric vehicles.
The removal of the structure brings to an end a prominent engineering project on Kiel Fjord. The City of Kiel is simultaneously considering options for a permanent crossing at the Hörn. A feasibility study is due to be presented later this year. No firm timetable or funding decisions for a replacement have been set.
The decision brings together safety and budgetary considerations with questions about future use. Rather than being scrapped, the distinctive structure is to be given a new, stationary purpose in Flensburg. Kiel’s main task remains ensuring a reliable, accessible crossing at the inner-city harbour. The city administration said it would provide ongoing updates on closures, construction work and progress with the dismantling.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).