The Challenge

Communities in Germany’s Ahr Valley were left isolated in the aftermath of devastating flooding throughout much of Europe in July 2021. Extreme weather caused extensive damage across the valley, with countless roads damaged or destroyed and more than 60 bridges collapsed.

The Solution

With expedited restoration of the region’s transportation infrastructure in urgent need, four of Mabey Bridge’s modular structures were ordered to re-establish ruined crossings in the town of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler. Two of the bridges were ordered by the town and two by Bundesanstalt Technisches Hilfswerk (THW). They were delivered just one week later using in-stock components from inventory, and rapidly assembled and installed by THW. The bridges were opened immediately afterwards, with one designed for vehicular use and three for pedestrians and cyclists.

Based on the success of the first projects, Mabey Bridge was selected to provide five additional bridges to support continuing recovery efforts in the area. THW ordered three vehicular bridges for the towns of Rech, Insul and Liers. Components were delivered to the sites three weeks later, installed by THW, and opened to traffic before the end of 2021. The final two bridges, procured for pedestrian and cyclist use by the town of Sinzig, became operational in 2022.

All nine structures supplied are Compact 200™ bridges ranging in length from 36 metres to 42 metres, and will serve either as permanent or long-term temporary solutions for decades to come. Unegg GmbH, Mabey Bridge’s partner in Central Europe, provided on-site technical assistance to THW for each project. Some of the bridges were supplied with the Mabey SmartEdge™ System, a customisable, galvanised steel panel that attaches to the bridge deck to clad the trusses safely, providing an aesthetically-pleasing alternative to more traditional steel or mesh.

The Results

Michael Treacy, CEO Mabey Bridge, said, “Mabey Bridge has a long history of providing solutions to aid in rebuilding infrastructure in the wake of natural disasters. We are dedicated to supporting nations during these times of need and will continue to play our part in these vital projects to reconnect affected communities.”