The Unionbrücke in Offenburg is one of the city's most important traffic arteries and is now being redesigned, as the existing structure cannot be renovated: the bridge dates from an earlier period of construction and was provisionally stabilised in 2011, but these measures were always intended as a temporary solution from the outset. More significant interventions on the existing bridge make little sense economically or technically; the city administration has therefore decided, rather than investing a large amount of money in a short-term fix, to plan a complete reconstruction.
The bridge connects important parts of Offenburg and spans the railway infrastructure in the immediate vicinity of the main train station. If the bridge were to be removed or permanently closed, it would have a considerable impact on traffic and the daily lives of many people. A functioning connection must therefore be maintained.
The redesign of the bridge also presents an opportunity to bring it in line with today's requirements. While the old structure was primarily designed for car traffic, the new one is intended to provide better conditions for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport as well. The goal is therefore not simply to fix a problem, but to make the infrastructure as a whole more fit for the future.
In this context, the city of Offenburg organised a design competition in which 9 firms submitted proposals for the new bridge.
together with KFWM Architekten and Engelsmann Peters GmbH, TTK developed a design that focuses, among other things, on greater safety and quality for pedestrian and cycle traffic. Urban integration and the creation of additional green spaces were also a central element of the proposal.
The jury selected our design as one of the four best proposals, thereby admitting us into the prize group entitled to participate in the second stage of the process.
We are delighted that our work on this exciting and pivotal project for Offenburg — aimed at modernising and securing the crossing over the railway line — has been recognised, and we now look forward with enthusiasm to developing the design further for the negotiation procedure.
In July 2026, the jury will select the winning design. The appointed firm or selected bidding consortium will then take on the remaining planning services for the construction of the new Unionbrücke."