Who on the German coast travelling this year can expect temporary closures at various bridges, as some of them are undergoing construction or renovation. This affects the bridge near Lindaunis on the Schlei, the Ziegelgraben Bridge near Stralsund and the Peenestrom Bridge near Wolgast. There have already been various construction sites in Germany and Denmark in recent years that have caused bottlenecks, such as when the Kong Christian den X's Bro in Sønderborg was temporarily closed, temporarily blocking the classic Rund Als cruise.
Just like us, our Nordic neighbours' bridge infrastructure is getting on in years and the repair backlog is now slowly but steadily being cleared. Last year reached a peak with the many problems on the Schlei in Lindaunis and Kappeln, but this year should be better. The railway is demolishing the old, non-repairable bridge and from 7 April, yachts will be able to pass freely until a temporary bridge is built in the summer to replace it until its completion in 2025 (see below).
The bridges in Sønderborg and the Guldborg Sound are also important for German crews, which is why they have been included in the overview. Here are the opening times and closures already scheduled for 2023.
Germany
Lindaunis railway bridge
Permanently open from 7 April to summer 2023 after dismantling of the old bascule section. Once the temporary bridge has been completed in the summer, it will be open to shipping traffic daily at 10:30, 11:30, 14:30 and 16:30.
The current status of the conversion on the German railway page on the conversion.
Bascule bridge Kappeln
April to October: always 15 minutes before the hour, 05:45 to 21:45
November to March: 07:45 to 17:45
Eric Warburg Bridge Lübeck
April to the end of October: Mon.-Sun. 09:30, 12:30, 17:00, 19:30
November to the end of March: Mon.-Sun. 09:30, 15:00 - by prior appointment up to two hours beforehand on tel.: 0451/4004875
Meiningen Bridge (Barther Bodden)
20.3.-29.10.: daily 07:45, 09:45, 17:45, 20:00, before and after only Tue. 10:30, Thurs. by prior appointment up to 24 hours beforehand on tel. 038321/417
Brick trench bridge Stralsund/Rügen
Daily 05:20, 08:20, 12:20, 15:20, 17:20, 21:30
CAUTION: Due to construction work, the bridge opening at 15:20 is cancelled without replacement on the following days: 12 June-15 June, 19 June-22 June, 18 September-21 September, 25 September-28 September.
Greifswald Wieck
3.4.-23.4.: daily 09:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00; additionally weekends and public holidays 10:00, 14:00, 16:00
24.4.-10.9.: daily 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00, 19:00
11.9.-9.10.: the 8 p.m. opening is cancelled
Peene Bridge Wolgast
16.3.-15.10.: daily 05:45, 07:45, 12:45, 17: 45, 20:45. From 16 October to 15 March 2024: 05:45, 07:45, 12:45, 17:45, 20:45
CAUTION: Due to construction work, the bridge will be completely closed from 2 May to 16 May and from 4 September to 29 September.
Zecherin Bridge (Achterwasser)
Daily 05:45, 08:45, 12:45, 16:45, 20:45. From 1.10. to 31.3. the openings at 05:45 and 20:45 are cancelled, the 16:45 opening is only served by prior appointment until 15:00 on 0175/5773609 or 038372/70838.
Denmark
Sønderborg, Kong Christian den X's Bro (Alssund)
1.4.-31.10.: Daily at 06:38 to 21:38, only weekdays no opening at 07:38. If the rush is heavy, the bridge keeper can also open 1 minute after the hour in high season, but not at 07:01 and 08:01 during the week due to rush hour. Enquiries under 0045/88724110
Nykøbing, Kong Frederik den IX's Bro (Guldborgsund)
The bridge opens on demand during opening hours UKW Ch. 16/12 or tel. 04554823170
1 April - 31 May and 1 September - 30 September: 7:00-19:00, 1.6.-31.8.: 07:00-20:00
More information in a good map overview on the Pages of the Danes on their NfS.
More on the topic:
Andreas Fritsch
Editor Travel
