The construction of a new bridge in the town of Liepe, Germany, has been successfully completed by Budimex. Awarded the contract at the end of 2021, Budimex was responsible for demolishing the old crossing and building the new facility, complete with necessary equipment and access roads. The main steel girder for the bridge was manufactured in Szczecin, Poland, and transported to Liepe via water.
Located near the Polish border in Brandenburg, Liepe is known for its significant ship lift and its position along the Oder-Havel Canal, a vital waterway linking the Oder River with Germany’s extensive network of waterways. This project involved not only the demolition of the old bridge but also the construction of a new crossing and the necessary profiling and strengthening of the canal banks.
Weighing 230 tonnes, the main steel girder was constructed in Szczecin from seven individual segments. Once completed, it was transported by water and mounted on the pre-constructed abutments. The design of the new bridge eliminated the pillars of the previous structure, which had obstructed navigation. Additionally, the bridge accommodates the Tour Brandenburg, one of the region’s primary cycling paths.
Jacek Zwiech, President of Budimex Bau, expressed satisfaction with the project’s completion, stating, “We are pleased with the successful completion of another construction contract in Germany. The construction process presented challenges, particularly due to the protected areas and the logistics of transporting the main structure via the Oder River and its canals. We also had limited time to manage logistics to avoid blocking the shipping channel.”
Budimex secured the gross EUR 5.1 million tender for this project at the end of 2021. The undertaking was executed by Budimex SA with the assistance of its subsidiary, Budimex Bau GmbH.
As part of its growth strategy, Budimex is expanding its operations beyond Poland into European markets. In Germany, the company, through Budimex Bau GmbH, focuses on infrastructure, cubature, and industrial construction. Budimex Bau has successfully completed several projects, including the replacement of a bridge in Wittstock for Die Autobahn GmbH. Currently, it is working on the reconstruction of a bridge in Oderberg and a slip road with a steel-framed structure in Delmenhorst. Additionally, Budimex is leading a project to build an animal crossing over the A2 motorway in Wollin, Germany. The company also has a presence in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Latvia.
