The Köhlbrand Bridge in Hamburg has received its worst-ever condition rating in its latest principal inspection. As reported on 11 November 2026, the eastern and western ramps were each given a rating of 3.5. This is stated in a response by the Hamburg Senate to an enquiry from the CDU , reported by NDR and Die Welt. The rating indicates that the structure is in an inadequate condition.
At the principal inspection six years earlier, the two ramps had received ratings of 2.7 and 3.3. The cable-supported section over the Köhlbrand, known as the Strom Bridge, was rated 3.4, almost unchanged. Extensive maintenance work had been carried out there.
A rating of 3.5 does not in itself mean that the bridge must be closed immediately or is at risk of collapse. The assessment may also reflect numerous defects that affect its durability. Under the official classification, ratings from 3.5 to 4.0 indicate an inadequate condition. The reports available do not state what measures will follow from the new inspection findings.
The structure’s condition has been a problem for port traffic for some time. The Hamburg Port Authority said in March 2026 that cracks and spalling were becoming more widespread on the ramps, and that material properties had also deteriorated significantly. Damage had been identified on other key structural components too. The port authority sees reducing the load on the structure as essential to keeping it operational.
Since 1 May 2026, heavy-load vehicles requiring a permit and weighing more than 44 tonnes have been prohibited from using the bridge. The measure announced at the time imposed no additional restrictions on cars and lorries weighing up to that limit. Heavy-load vehicles must instead use alternative routes. The port authority has altered traffic islands and road markings at several locations on the road network to make these routes easier to navigate.
For certain alternative routes via the A7 motorway , exemptions from the limits for route-specific long-term permits are available in justified individual cases until 30 November 2026. According to NDR, CDU port affairs spokesperson Antonia Goldner criticised the Senate for leaving port companies in the dark on important issues.
Opened in 1974, the bridge connects the eastern and western parts of the Port of Hamburg. According to the port authority, around 32,000 vehicles used it on an average working day in 2023. The challenge for the city is to keep the link operational while the replacement is being planned and built, while also limiting the strain on the ageing structure.
A new bridge is to replace the existing one. Demolition of the old structure is not planned until traffic can use the new link. According to information made public on 11 November, the demolition itself is expected to take one year. This is a projected timeframe, not a deadline that has already been reached.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).