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Traffic light renovation and Mülheim Bridge: Traffic mourning in Cologne!
Renewal of the traffic lights in Cologne from June 23, 2025; Mülheim Bridge will remain closed until March 2028. Costs and details here.
Traffic light renovation and Mülheim Bridge: Traffic mourning in Cologne!
Extensive construction work is underway in Cologne that affects both infrastructure and traffic. From Monday, June 23, 2025, the traffic lights at the intersection of Kalker Hauptstrasse and Kapellenstrasse will be replaced. This measure, which is necessary due to an outdated control unit and traffic lights, will last until mid-July. During the work, a mobile traffic light system will regulate traffic in order to provide the best possible care for all road users. Pedestrians are particularly affected by this and will be rerouted from Monday, June 30th to Monday, July 7th, 2025, as the pedestrian crossing will be closed during this time. The costs for replacing the traffic lights amount to around 100,000 euros, and the technology will be converted to energy-saving LED lights, reports Rhenish advertising papers.
But this is not the only construction site in the city. The Mülheim Bridge is also in the headlines because of repair work. From June 23rd there will be full night closures for motorized traffic, which will last five nights. On the nights of June 23 to 28 and June 30 to July 5, 2025, the bridge will be closed to cars between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Cyclists and pedestrians remain unaffected by these restrictions. During the day, the bridge is still accessible in the direction of Niehl, but the direction of Mülheim has been closed since February 2024 due to ongoing work.
The cost explosion at the Mülheim Bridge
The renovation work on the Mülheim Bridge is of a completely different caliber. The city of Cologne expects costs of almost 498.2 million euros, which represents a notable increase of 65 percent compared to the original estimates of 301.5 million euros. Part of the costs, around 105.59 million euros, will be borne by the district government and the Go-Rheinland transport association because the bridge is a listed building and represents an important axis for local public transport. The Cologne City Gazette attributes the increase in costs to delays and general price increases in construction, which alone amount to 60 million euros.
If you look at the development of costs since the original plan 15 years ago, it becomes clear how dramatic the situation is. Starting at 39 million euros in 2012, the amount has risen rapidly to this day. The renovation, originally planned to last four years, will now take 11 years, with a full opening to traffic expected by March 2028. Cars should be able to drive over the bridge in both directions again by the end of March 2026, while light rail lines 13 and 18 should return from September 15, 2024.
The look into the future
The city has recognized the need for these comprehensive renovation measures, but implementation is proving difficult. With 438 urban bridges also requiring renovation, including four major Rhine bridges, it is even more important to maximize progress on existing projects. If you would like to find out more about bridge renovations, you can visit the website Bridge renovation inform.