The 15,000‑ton, 600‑metre “Overfly” cable‑stayed bridge spanning the Nürnberg‑Ost interchange has been opened to traffic, ending a delay of roughly one year.
Overfly Nürnberg‑Ost – “fly over the interchange”
Vehicles travelling from the A6 toward Heilbronn and then onto the A9 toward Berlin now use the new bridge, a move that reshapes a key node in Germany’s autobahn network, according to Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU). Schnieder and his Bavarian counterpart Christian Bernreiter (CSU) jointly signed off on the opening. The ministry expects traffic volumes to keep rising, making investments in robust infrastructure essential.
The project’s price tag is reported as 160 million euros, while an earlier statement cited a cost of around 65 million euros. The Autobahn authority estimates that about 136 000 vehicles pass the Nürnberg‑Ost interchange each day.
Compared with the former exit, which handled up to 1 800 vehicles per hour at peak times—almost twice the originally planned figure—the new bridge accommodates a substantially higher flow, easing the chronic bottlenecks that previously caused long queues.
Drivers entering the A6 toward Prague from the A9 coming from Munich also benefit. Previously they had to stop at a traffic light that was a frequent site of accidents. The Overfly now “untangles” this movement in advance, eliminating the need for that stop sign.
Delay caused by pandemic and supply issues
The bridge was slated for opening last year, but the COVID‑19 pandemic disrupted supply chains, and the war in Ukraine created a global steel shortage. Project leader Marco Weber also cited a shortage of skilled welders as a factor, noting that about 12 000 tonnes of steel are embedded in the structure. Only after the weekend prior to the opening could the temporary traffic management be removed and white lane markings applied.
Construction required extreme precision
Built alongside the motorway, the bridge was assembled piece by piece and slid centimeter by centimeter over the live traffic lanes. An additional meter of vertical adjustment was required to place it in its final position—a process that alone took more than two years. The entire construction period spanned roughly six years.
Correction: The bridge is usable only in the direction toward Berlin; it is not open to opposite‑direction traffic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the capacity of the new Overfly bridge compared to the old exit?
The new bridge handles significantly more vehicles than the former exit, which peaked at about 1 800 vehicles per hour. Precise capacity figures for the bridge are not given, but it was built to alleviate the previous overload.
Why was the opening of the bridge delayed?
Delays stemmed from COVID‑19‑related supply‑chain disruptions, a worldwide steel shortage linked to the Ukraine war, and a shortage of qualified welders needed for the structure’s 12 000 tonnes of steel.
How long did the construction of the Overfly take?
The entire project lasted roughly six years, with more than two years dedicated to the precise sliding and lowering of the bridge into its final position.
How might the improved traffic flow at Nürnberg‑Ost influence travel patterns in the coming years?
