‘Slaughterhouse’ demolition project begins

The Slaughthouse Bridge is situated next to a large abattoire, that is well-known locally. (PHOTO: Autobahn Westfalen)

The Slaughterhouse Bridge - so named by the project’s engineering team due to its close proximity to a large and rather conspicuous abattoir, is a 66-metre-long concrete structure that straddles a railway line.

Following a 2019 structural survey that identified “significant structural deficits”, demolition crews have now be deployed to removed bridge, which is located between Bochum Westkreuz and Bochum-Harpen on the A40 - a key transport route that connects the cities of Dortmund, Essen and Duisburg. 

According to highways authority Die Autobahn, the initial works include the removal of the bridge’s road surface and the selective dismantling of key parts of its structure.

Lars Batzer, Project Manager at Die Autobahn, said: “In the next 15 weeks, we will demolish the old bridge and build the two new halves of the bridge.

“We have already built the new central pier and the abutments, on which the bridge slab rests on the right and left, under the old bridge, so to speak, under flowing traffic.

Lars explained: “This saved us three quarters of a year of full closure.” 

The engineering team tasked with the bridge’s replacement, informally dubbed it the Slaughterhouse Bridge. (PHOTO: Autobahn Westfalen)

A 15-week, full road closure of the A40 between Bochum Westkreuz and Bochum-Harpen has been implemented to allow the works to take place.

In the coming weeks, the railway line beneath the Slaughterhouse Bridge will also be closed, to enable the structure to be fully demolished and a replacement installed.

The project is due to be completed in the second half of 2025.