Weser crossing

Technical data

Project description

1 four-lane motorway tunnel
Total tunnel length: 1,100 m
Length of the total section on our behalf: approx. 4,800m

Construction method

6 floating and lowering elements with a total length of 720m
Excavation pits for the open construction method up to 30m deep
40,000 m² of diaphragm wall and 50,000 m³ of diaphragm wall concrete will be used

Geology

Weser sands and Lauenburg strata

General data

Project

Weser crossing, motorway tunnel under the Weser

Client

DEGES GmbH

Contractor

Wayss & Freytag Ingenieurbau AG, North and Centre Divisions

Construction period

August 2023 to August 2028

Net construction sum

650 million €

Utilisation
Infrastructure
Type
Motorway tunnel, four-lane
Length
1.100 m
Type of construction
Immersed tunnel

Improving the transport infrastructure

The A 281 federal motorway forms the north-western link between the existing A 1 and A 27 motorways in the city of Bremen. It makes a significant contribution to relieving congestion on the busy A1 and A27 motorways as well as the inner-city access roads.

The planned Weser crossing will significantly improve the transport infrastructure in north-west Germany.

Thanks to its connection to the international trunk road network, the A 281 is also gaining strategic importance for the freight village (GVZ), the ports of Bremen and Bremen Airport. The construction of this urban motorway places high demands on planning and implementation. Not only technical aspects have to be taken into account, but also the interests of local residents as well as environmental and nature conservation concerns.

As part of the western ring closure of the A 281, a 1.1 kilometre long tunnel is being built, which will cross under the Weser in future. This challenging structure consists of a 720 metre long immersed tunnel and two open-cut tunnel sections on both banks. The 6 tunnel elements will be manufactured in parallel with the foreshore sections in a dry dock in Bremerhaven. They will then be transported 60km upriver to the industrial harbour in Bremen. The lowering process itself will take place in quick succession in 2027, with commissioning of the 5 km long construction section planned for 2030.