The Bonn City Council approved the design planning for this construction project between Heinrich-Böll-Ring/Thomastrasse and Immenburgstrasse (Innovation Triangle) on March 20, 2025. The 6.50-metre-wide bridge will have a 2.50-metre-wide footpath on the west side. On the other hand, there will be two lanes for cyclists, each two meters wide. The cycle paths will be color-coded to separate them from the sidewalk. There will be an elevator system to ensure accessibility.
West side
To the west of the railroad tracks, the bridge ramp will be widened in the form of a dovetail according to previous plans. This will provide a direct connection both to the so-called innovation axis along Immenburgstraße and to Hein-Moeller-Straße as far as the Alter Friedhof tunnel and the Endenich Straße/Wittelsbacher Ring intersection. A staircase will also be built to provide direct access to the innovation triangle.
East side
On the Nordstadt/inner city side, the bridge will have a spiral staircase to Thomastrasse and Heinrich-Böll-Ring as well as barrier-free ramps to the roads. The ramp in turn runs in the direction of Ennemoser Straße and joins the cycle commuter route to Bornheim/Alfter. The city center is connected via Heinrich-Böll-Ring and Thomastrasse. Cyclists heading for the city center can use the cycle paths at the end of the ramp via Heinrich-Böll-Ring and Thomastrasse or via Ellerstrasse/Bornheimer Strasse (after conversion). The Bonn-West station is to be equipped with a barrier-free elevator at both platforms.
Two planning variants
The Council prefers planning variant 2, which corresponds to the previous plans. However, this requires the overhead line of the railroad line to be rebuilt (estimated additional costs of 2.4 million euros net), which is why Deutsche Bahn AG doubts that it can be implemented during the closures on the left bank of the Rhine in 2028. If this alternative cannot be implemented in 2028 or leads to considerable additional costs, variant 1 should be implemented in accordance with the Council's decision. This provides for the bridge to be raised by around two meters compared to the preliminary study so that it is outside the area of influence of the overhead line.
Cost estimate
The city administration currently estimates the total costs at just under 16.5 to 16.75 million euros. These have increased significantly since the cost forecast as part of a feasibility study in 2023; among other things, due to an increase in the construction price index of 15 to 20 percent, increased personnel costs and the raising of the bridge (variant 1) and relocation of the overhead line (variant 2). The city administration assumes that funding will be provided by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and Go.Rheinland. Although the project is eligible for funding in principle, neither funding body has yet given any reliable confirmation as to whether and to what extent funding will be provided.