Mülheimer Brücke in Cologne: Finally navigable again after a long closure!

Nach 17-monatiger Sperrung ist die Mülheimer Brücke in Köln wieder einspurig befahrbar. Sanierungskosten steigen erheblich.
After a 17-month closure, the Mülheim bridge in Cologne is again accessible. Refurbishment costs increase considerably. (Symbolbild/MK)

Mülheimer Brücke in Cologne: Finally navigable again after a long closure!

After a long dry spell, the Mülheim bridge in Cologne is again released for traffic. From today, July 10, 2025, drivers can finally drive across the bridge again on a lane towards Mülheim. This is what the Rundschau . This change is the result of a 17-month complete block that began in February 2024. Now the bridge is available again in both directions, but the passage remains limited, especially towards Niehl.

The comprehensive renovation of the approximately one kilometer long bridge has been in progress since 2018. The costs that were originally estimated at 164 million euros have now reached a shocking increase to around 500 million euros. A completion of the work, which delayed again and again, is now expected for 2028, which is a significant deviation from the initial periods.

progress and challenges

On the way to reopening, numerous work had to be carried out. In particular, the cross carriers at the end of the Mülheim bridge had to be repaired during night closures. The city of Cologne describes these measures essential for the overall moderation of the bridge. This is also evidenced by the WDR , which points out that this work can only be carried out without vehicle traffic.

Traffic was diverted several times during the renovation phase, with the zoo bridge serving as an alternative route. Drivers were not only diverted during the night closures, and pedestrians and cyclists were also able to use the bridge at any time, so that the access options were largely preserved.

A look into the future

Despite the return to the partially accessible Mülheim bridge, the renovation process remains a challenge. Damage to the building that was more intensive than expected makes additional and extensive repairs necessary. This knowledge means that discussions about the renovation costs and the need for better inventory analyzes always arise before construction work. The city of Cologne plans to take these aspects more into account in the future in order to avoid similar problems.

With a planned completion of the renovation work by mid -2026 and a possible consent of the city council on the increasing costs in May, the Mülheim bridge remains a hot iron in Cologne city policy. The 24rhein reports that the city offers guided tours for the work To give citizens an insight into the renovation and their necessity.

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OrtMülheimer Brücke, 50735 Köln, Deutschland
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