Innovative bridge: Students present plans for Maintal-Mühlheim!

Innovative bridge: Students present plans for Maintal-Mühlheim!

There is an exciting project in the pipeline in Maintal that is intended to strengthen the connection between Dörnigheim and Mühlheim. The “The Mainufer the People Interest Group” has organized an information event together with the ADFC, which will take place on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Evangelical Community Center, Berliner Straße 58. The focus is on designs for a bicycle and pedestrian bridge that were developed by architecture students at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences. The event is aimed at all interested citizens and offers the opportunity to exchange information about the project in Maintal.

The event is led by Professor Thorsten Helbig and lecturer Jasmina Herrmann. Four talented architecture students – Melanie Mayer, Lennart Hammerschmidt, Marius Noé and Luc Wiesner – will present their creative designs, which were created as part of an exciting semester project. There are a total of ten designs for a barrier-free bridge between the two cities, which also include innovative features such as e-bike charging stations and bicycle repair options.

The vision behind the designs

The students not only paid attention to the technical specifications, but also took the surroundings of the new bridge into account. Plans include, among other things, a playground on the Maintal side and the integration of the rowing club's grounds on the Mühlheim side. The creative approaches to accessibility are promising and show that the students have a good knack for practical solutions. The designs range from modern spirals to an impressive suspension bridge. Professor Helbig emphasizes that all suggestions are practical and therefore have the potential to sustainably improve mobility in the region.

Bicycle bridges like these play an essential role in promoting active mobility. According to that Mobility Forum They offer safe and direct crossing of obstacles and close important gaps in the cycle path network. Cities around the world are relying on such projects to make cycling more attractive and improve accessibility. Bicycle bridges should be taken into account in the early planning phase to ensure maximum functionality.

A step into the future

People in the region are already looking forward to the feasibility study that the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main regional association is having drawn up for the Main crossing between the Carl Ulrich Bridge and the Steinheimer Bridge. This study will provide important approaches for the implementation of the bridge project. The integration of modern amenities and a secure connection to the S-Bahn are also being discussed and could further enhance the overall project.

Anyone who would like to experience the innovative strength of the young architecture students first hand should note the date of the information event. Here you have the opportunity not only to look at the designs, but also to actively participate in the discussion about the future development of cycling in the region. The project could become an important building block for sustainable mobility in Maintal and Mühlheim, a development that should inspire both local cyclists and pedestrians in the region.

Those interested can find out more about the project using the following links: Vorsprung Online, op-online and Mobility Forum.