This list of bridges in Hamburg is incomplete, with an overview of their history and geography. In this article, the bridges are listed by Hamburg's three major rivers (Alster, Bille and Elbe) and the respectively crossed body of water (river, creek, canal, fleet, harbor basin or else). The Elbe is by far the largest of the three. Unlike Alster and Bille, the Elbe is also within the North Sea's tidal influence, and Elbe bridges differ substantially from the ones on Alster and Bille. All three rivers are fed by a number of smaller rivers and also feature a number of branches or sidearms.
Hamburg has more than 2,496 bridges, the most bridges of any city in Europe. Besides the Hanseatic city's mercantile and maritime history, the many rivers, canals and bridges lend to Hamburg's claim as the "Venice of the North". A 2004 report by the Department for Roads, Bridges and Waterways (LSBG) states a total number of 2,496 bridges in Hamburg,Landesbetrieb Straßen, Brücken und Gewässer (LSBG) Hamburg, 2004private bridges excluded (e.g. factory premises or Hagenbeck's Tierpark) many more than cities like Venice, Amsterdam or Saint Petersburg. Given the city's waterborne geography and the port's heavy duty requirements, bridges in Hamburg also cover a great variety of architectural styles and innovative structural systems.Friedhelm Grundmann, Michael Zapf: Hamburg - Stadt der Brücken, Schubert; Leipzig, 2003, Function-wise the total number of bridges break down to 1,172 road bridges, 987 railroad bridges (of which 407 Hochbahn bridges) and 470 footbridges (of which 290 within public parks and green spaces). 383 bridges are under management of the Hamburg Port Authority.
The most notable bridges in Hamburg include the historic inner-city bridges passing the Lower Alster (plus canals), the bridges across Speicherstadt canals, and the grand bridges spanning the Elbe's Norderelbe and Süderelbe anabranches, most commonly known as Elbbrücken.
Bridges in the Alster river system
For centuries, the only bridges in Hamburg were across the Lower Alster and its canals in the Altstadt (old town). Repeated redirecting of the Alster canals resulted in ever new bridges to go with them. Ultimately, most of the pre-17th century bridges were destroyed in the Great Fire of 1842; the oldest remaining bridges in Hamburg are Zollenbrücke (1633) and Ellerntorsbrücke (1668).
Most of today's bridges in the inner city date from the 1840s reconstruction, during which over two dozen, mainly Renaissance Revival stone arch bridges were erected under then building director (1809–1868). Maack's bridges tied into a general urban redevelopment of the inner city which was similarly seen in a number of European cities of the mid 19th century, and still characterizes many of the Neustadt's canals.
Most of the bridges across the Upper Alster and adjoining canals were first built in conjunction with the area's extensive residential developments from the 1860s onwards. Some of them were gradually replaced during the 1920s, with Fritz Schumacher in particular establishing a brick-arch-prototype for many bridges.
Alster Bridges across the Alster (Alsterbrücken) in Hamburg; some of the Alster's total of lie within Hamburg.
Upper Alster A great number of the city's Alster bridges are located in the residential districts along the Upper Alster and its tributaries and accompanying side canals.
Image Name Built Length Location Notes ↓ Alster (Hamburg state border) Ratsmühlendammbrücke 1991 Fuhlsbüttel, Ohlsdorf Hasenbergbrücke 1913 Ohlsdorf Sengelmannbrücke 1919 (2001) Alsterdorf Hindenburgbrücke 1920 Alsterdorf Dammbrücke 1918 Alsterdorf Metzgerbrücke Alsterdorf Deelbögebrücke Alsterdorf Bahnbrücke 1941 Alsterdorf carries the Hamburg freight rail bypass Meenkbrücke Eppendorf, Winterhude Fährhausbrücke Eppendorf, Winterhude ↓ Eppendorfer Mühlenteich Hudtwalckerbrücke 1921 Eppendorf, Winterhude carries Hudtwalckerstraße, part of Bundesstraße 5 U1 Hochbahn Viaduct 1912 Eppendorf, Winterhude carries Hamburg U-Bahn line U3 Hochbahn Viaduct 1912 Eppendorf, Winterhude carries Hamburg U-Bahn line (Circle line) Goernebrücke 1909 Eppendorf, Winterhude Streekbrücke 1913 (1927) Harvestehude, Winterhude Krugkoppelbrücke 1890 (1928) Harvestehude, Winterhude designed by Fritz Schumacher ↓ Außenalster For bridges from the Außenalster downstream, see #Lower Alster
The Alster is joined by the Tarpenbek at Eppendorfer Mühlenteich on its right side; a little further downstream, the Leinpfadkanal branches off the Alster's left side and creates a water link with a number of canals, including the Goldbekkanal, which in turn feeds into the Alster's system at Außenalster. Again on the right ride, the Isebekkanal joins the Alster's water shortly before reaching the Außenalster. Tarpenbek Bridges across Tarpenbek; the Tarpenbek empties into the Alster at Eppendorfer Mühlenteich. Roosenbrookbrücke Bahnbrücke Borsteler Brücke Anni-Glissmann-BrückeLeinpfadkanal Bridges across Leinpfadkanal; the Leinpfadkanal runs parallel to the Alster. Leinpfadbrücke (1907) Klärchenbrücke (1909) Maria-Louisen-Brücke Werftbrücke Blumenstraßenbrücke
Isebekanal Bridges across Isebek and Isebekkanal Eimsbütteler Brücke (1909) Goebenbrücke Mansteinbrücke Hoheluftbrücke Klosteralleebrücke (1906) Eppendorfer Brücke (1927) Hochbahn Viaduct (1910) Isebrücke (1900) HeilwigbrückeGoldbekkanal Bridges across Barmbeker Stichkanal, Goldbekkanal, Mühlenkampkanal and Rondelkanal Stichkanalbrücke Hellbrookstraßenbrücke Saarlandbrücke Stadthallenbrücke Schleidenbrücke (1925) Wiesendammbrücke (1930) Moorfuhrtbrücke (1912) Poelchaukampbrücke (1895) Fernsichtbrücke (1928)
Lower Alster
Bridges across the Lower Alster (from the Außenalster downstream); this section lists most bridges in the inner city districts Altstadt and Neustadt. Image Name Built Length Location Notes ↓ Außenalster Kennedybrücke 1953 Rotherbaum, St. Georg designed by Bernhard Hermkes; originally named Neue Lombardsbrücke (until 1963) Lombardsbrücke 1651 (1868) Neustadt, Altstadt designed by ; part of the Wallring, also carries the Hamburg-Altona link line ↓ Binnenalster Reesendammbrücke 1844 Neustadt, Altstadt designed by Johann Hermann Maack, carries the Jungfernstieg ↓ Kleine Alster Schleusenbrücke 1870 Neustadt, Altstadt ↓ Alster continues as Alsterfleet Adolphsbrücke 1845 Neustadt, Altstadt designed by Johann Hermann Maack, replaced the Scheelengangsbrücke Heiligengeistbrücke 1885 Neustadt, Altstadt Slamatjenbrücke 1959 Neustadt, Altstadt Binnenhafenbrücke Neustadt, Altstadt Otto-Sill-Brücke Neustadt, Altstadt ↓ Norderelbe at Binnenhafen For bridges across Binnenhafen, see #Oberhafen, Zollkanal and Binnenhafen
Bleichenfleet and Herrengrabenfleet Bridges across Bleichenfleet and Herrengrabenfleet in Neustadt Image Name Built Length ↓ Alsterfleet Bleichenbrücke 1845 Stadthausbrücke Ellerntorsbrücke 1668 Michaelisbrücke (1988) Herrengrabenbrücke Pulverturmbrücke Schaartorbrücke 1868 ↓ Norderelbe at Niederhafen Mönkedammfleet and Nikolaifleet Bridges across Mönkedammfleet and Nikolaifleet in Altstadt Image Name Built Length ↓ Alsterfleet Altenwallbrücke Mühlenbrücke Trostbrücke 1266 (1883) Zollenbrücke 1355 (1633) Nikolaibrücke Holzbrücke 1847 Hohe Brücke 1887 ↓ Norderelbe at Zollkanal For bridges across Zollkanal, see #Oberhafen, Zollkanal and Binnenhafen
Osterbek Bridges across Osterbek and Osterbekkanal
Bramfelder Brücke (1900) U3 Osterbekkanal Hochbahn Viaduct (1912) Hufnerstraßenbrücke Käthnerortbrücke Schleidenbrücke Großheidesteg Heinz-Gärtner-Brücke Mühlenkampbrücke (1900) Langenzugbrücke (1864, 1909) For bridges from the Außenalster downstream, see
Uhlenhorster Kanal Bridges across Hofwegkanal and Uhlenhorster Kanal Grillparzerbrücke Fährbrücke Hofwegbrücke (1894) Herbert-Weichmann-Brücke (1893) Feenteichbrücke (1884) For bridges from the Außenalster downstream, see #Lower Alster
Wandse Bridges across Wandse, Eilbek, Eilbekkanal and Mundsburger Kanal
Image Name Built Length Location Notes ↓ Wandse (Hamburg state border) Wandsbeker Königstraßenbrücke Wandsbek ↓ Mühlenteich Mühlenstraßenbrücke Wandsbek Bahnbrücke Eilbek, Barmbek-Süd carries the Hamburg freight rail bypass ↓ Wandse continues as Eilbek Eilbecker Brücke Eilbek, Barmbek-Süd Friedrichsberger Brücke Eilbek, Barmbek-Süd Maxstraßenbrücke 1908 Eilbek, Barmbek-Süd ↓ Wandse continues as Eilbekkanal Von-Essen-Straßenbrücke Eilbek, Barmbek-Süd Wagnerstraßenbrücke Eilbek, Barmbek-Süd Richardstraßenbrücke 1899 Eilbek, Barmbek-Süd Wartenaubrücke 1908 Hohenfelde, Uhlenhorst carries Wartenau, part of Bundesstraße 5 ↓ Kuhmühlenteich Kuhmühlenteichbrücke 1912 Hohenfelde, Uhlenhorst carries Hamburg U-Bahn line (Circle line) ↓ Wandse continues as Mundsburger Kanal Kuhmühlenbrücke 1870 (1967) Hohenfelde, Uhlenhorst Mundsburger Brücke 1870 Hohenfelde, Uhlenhorst designed by Christian Wilhelm Plath and William Lindley Schwanenwikbrücke 1878 Hohenfelde, Uhlenhorst designed by Franz Andreas Meyer ↓ Außenalster For bridges from the Außenalster downstream, see #Lower Alster
Bridges in the Bille river system
Bille Bridges across the Bille in Hamburg; of the Bille's total of lie within Hamburg.
Image Name Built Length Location Notes ↓ Bille (Hamburg state border) Ernst-Mantius-Brücke Bergedorf ↓ Schlossteich Sehrrahnbrücke Bergedorf ↓ Sehrrahn Bergedorfer Brücke Bergedorf carries Bergedorfer Straße, part of Bundesstraße 5 Ladenbeker-Furtweg-Brücke Bergedorf Bojewiesenbrücke Bergedorf Rote Brücke Billbrook Gelbe Brücke Billstedt, Billbrook Blaue Brücke Horn, Billbrook Braune Brücke Hamm, Rothenburgsort Grüne Brücke 1911 Hammerbrook, Rothenburgsort Schwarze Brücke 1909 Hammerbrook, Rothenburgsort carries Heidenkampsweg, part of Bundesstraße 75 Zweite Amsinckbrücke Hammerbrook, Rothenburgsort carries Amsinckstraße, part of Bundesstraße 4 ↓ Norderelbe at Oberhafen For bridges across Oberhafen, see #Oberhafen, Zollkanal and Binnenhafen
Hammerbrook canals Bridges across Hammerbrook and Rothenburgsort canals
Billekanal Schurzalleebrücke Gustav-Kunst-Brücke Hochwasserbassin Wendenbrücke Süderstraßenbrücke (1908) Bullerdeichbrücke Mittelkanal Zweite Banksbrücke Erste Nagelsbrücke Zweite Nagelsbrücke S-Bahn Viaduct Zweite Hammerbrookbrücke Zweite Heidenkampbrücke Schleusenkanal Erste Stadtdeichbrücke Erste Banksbrücke Erste Amsinckbrücke Sonninkanal Mittelkanalbrücke Südkanal Zweite Ausschläger Brücke Zweite Grevenbrücke Tiefstackkanal Liebigbrücke Borsigbrücke Tiefstacker Brücke
Bridges in the Elbe river system
Up until the 19th century, the Unterelbe had no fixed crossing. Travel time between Hamburg and Harburg took over two hours, and included two ferry trips across the Norder- and Süderelbe and a weary trip across the dikes of Wilhelmsburg. During Napoleon's brief annexion of Hamburg, a long pile bridge was built across the islands of Wilhelmsburg, however it also required cable ferries across the Elbe's two anabranches. In 1817 the poorly maintained structure was washed away.
By the 1840s, with industrialization rapidly growing and trade through the Port of Hamburg skyrocketing, the need for a fixed crossing became apparent. At the time, the German states were a loose confederation of sovereign states, with the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg only controlling the northern Elbe shore, while the town of Harburg and the southern Elbe shore were part of the Kingdom of Hanover. Both sides built their railway lines: Hamburg–Bergedorf railway in 1842 (extended to Berlin in 1846), and Celle–Harburg railway in 1847 (connected to Hanover since 1845) – but no link across the Elbe. One of the biggest obstacles was Hanover's rivalry to Hamburg and her attempts to promote overseas trade through the Port of Harburg.