The Hanseatic City of Rostock the Rennbahnallee has been completely closed since 5 November 2026. The reason is the demolition of the nearly 100-year-old bridge, identified as Bw 121, which is to be replaced with a new structure. The closure affects the section between Barnstorfer Ring and Tannenweg. The city says the replacement bridge is scheduled to open in the first half of 2028.
The city administration says the structure can no longer reliably bear the required loads over the long term. Inspections and municipal decisions in preparation for the work have been under way since 2025. The demolition and construction require possessions of the railway tracks running beneath the bridge, arranged in coordination with Deutsche Bahn. The work will be divided into several stages to accommodate technical access windows and safety requirements.
Public transport was adjusted when the full closure began. Trams no longer cross the bridge. The Rostocker Straßenbahn AG (RSAG) is providing replacement buses and changing routes instead. Depending on their destination, passengers should expect additional journey times of up to around 15 minutes, according to the city. Extensive diversions have been signposted for motor vehicles. Pedestrians and cyclists are being routed around the zooarea, as the crossing at the bridge is no longer available.
Key facilities in the area remain accessible, although access routes have changed. These include the zoo, the New Cemetery, the swimming pool and Ostseestadion. The city advises people to check the latest information on routes, stop locations and service frequencies; the administration and RSAG are publishing details on an ongoing basis.
Residents’ and passengers’ groups criticised the plans in advance. They fear that the existing tram route in the Rennbahnallee area will not be restored in its current form in the long term. The city says no political alternatives or long-term route decisions have yet been formally approved. The immediate priority is the safe replacement of the dilapidated bridge and maintaining access to the district during construction.
The immediate news is that the full closure has begun. Earlier discussions and documents record preparations for the project but do not constitute new developments. The Hanseatic city continues to give the completion date as Rostock the first half of 2028; changes to the construction schedule remain dependent on permits, track possessions and weather conditions.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).