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As part of the construction and upgrading of the B 173 between Lichtenfels and Kronach, the junction serving the village of Michelau is also being rebuilt. A new junction is being created in a very confined space between the existing B 173 federal road, the existing link to Michelau and the Deutsche Bahn Lichtenfels–Kronach railway line, comprising four structures:
- BW 5-1, retaining wall at the relocated LIF13
- Structure 5-2: New bridge for the realigned LIF13 district road as part of the B 173
- BW 5-3, retaining wall along the B 173 and the Deutsche Bahn railway line
- Structure 5-4: Bridge to divert the Scheidsbach stream (crossing the B 173), connected to Structure 5-3
Structure 5-2 in Michelau is a particularly challenging bridge structure. The superstructure geometry, which is curved in plan and inclined in cross-section, presents a number of challenges. The use of a three-span continuous girder with a total length of 156 metres has created demanding boundary conditions, particularly during the interim construction stages on temporary supports and in the transitional phases between construction phases, which have a defining influence on the structure’s development.
Another particularly challenging aspect is the construction of the superstructure at a height of approximately 1 metre above ground level, which is necessary due to the need to build over a railway line that remains in operation throughout the construction works. Once the box girder has been prestressed and the temporary scaffolding and formwork have been completely dismantled, the 156-metre-long superstructure will be moved into its final position using a hydraulically coupled lowering system as part of the so-called ‘stacking-down’ process.
