Since 5 February 2026, the new Franklin-Steg in Mannheim has been the longest integral wooden bridge in the world, connecting the Vogelstang and Franklin-Quartier districts. The approximately 45-metre-long pedestrian and cycle bridge shortens the cycle path between the two districts by half.
The Franklin footbridge in Mannheim sets a new record: With a length of 44.7 metres, the new pedestrian and cycle bridge is the longest integral timber bridge in the world. The integral construction method means that the combination of timber and so-called carbon concrete does not require any bearings or expansion joints. The structure, which connects the districts of Vogelstang and the new Franklin Quarter, was officially opened on 5 February 2026 by Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder and Mannheim's Lord Mayor Christian Specht.
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The federal government has fully funded the project with around nine million euros as part of the funding guideline for innovative projects to improve cycling. "The Franklin footbridge is a flagship project of the federal government's innovative cycling promotion programme," explained Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder at the opening ceremony. "The bridge is not only a practical link between two city districts, it is also of very high quality and deliberately made from sustainable materials." The bridge crosses the busy B38 federal road and shortens the cycle path between the two districts from 3.5 to 1.7 kilometres.
Innovative construction with a sustainable concept
The bridge, which weighs around 150 tonnes, was mainly made of wood, with 140 cubic metres of spruce glulam in the main span. A further 60 cubic metres of glulam form the basis of the spiral ramp on the Vogelstang side. Carbon concrete slabs as a walking surface complement the timber construction and minimise the use of cement, water and sand. Instead of the usual steel mats, a reinforcement made of carbon fibres was used. "The structure created here is currently absolutely unique," emphasised Farsad Tawakol, project manager at the Mannheim-based project development company MWSP.
Focus on durability and environmental friendliness
The sustainability of the project was a key condition for full funding by the federal government. On the one hand, environmentally friendly mobility is to be promoted and, on the other, sustainability manifests itself in a lower CO2 footprint compared to the construction of a conventional bridge. Josef Schmees, representative of the bridge construction company, expects the bridge to have a service life of 100 years or more. This means that the timber bridge is in no way inferior to conventional bridges made of steel and concrete. The bridge - the structure weighs 104 tonnes without the carbon concrete slabs - was lifted into place at the end of August 2025.
Thomas Musch
Publisher
