Adolphe Bridge- A Crossover | Story by Balmoral International Group

A history of Adolphe Bridge

Adolphe Bridge (Luxembourgish: Adolphe-Bréck, French: Pont Adolphe, German: Adolphe-Brücke) is an arch bridge inLuxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. The bridge takes road traffic across the Pétrusse, connecting Boulevard Royal, in Ville Haute, to Avenue de la Liberté, in Gare. At 17.2 m wide, it carries four lanes of road traffic, three to Gare and a bus lane to Ville Haute, and has two footpaths for pedestrians.[1]

Adolphe Bridge has become an unofficial national symbol of sorts, representing Luxembourg’s independence, and has become one of Luxembourg City’s main tourist attractions. The bridge was designed by Paul Séjourné, a Frenchman, and Paul Rodange, a Luxembourger, and was built between 1900 and 1903. Its design was copied in the construction of Walnut Lane Bridge inPhiladelphia, the United States.[2]

The bridge was named after Grand Duke Adolphe, who reigned Luxembourg from 1890 until 1905, and was the first monarch to hold the title not in personal union with another. Although it is now over 100 years old, it is also known as the New Bridge(Luxembourgish: Nei Bréck, French: Nouveau pont, German: Neue Brücke) by people from Luxembourg City. The ‘old bridge’ in this comparison is the Passerelle, which was built between 1859 and 1861. 

At one time, the Adolphe Bridge could lay claim to having the world’s largest stone arch. As such, huge interest was generated in the bridge when it was first constructed, between 1900 and 1903.

spans over 85 meters, crossing the Petrusse Valley at a maximum height of 42 meters at its tallest point. The bridge is 153 meters long in total, and connects the old part of the city with the Gare District.

 Beginnings

With the demolition of the city’s famous fortification, under the 1867 Treaty of London, and the decline of its strategic importance, Luxembourg City reverted to the normality enjoyed by other cities. The city’s built-up area spread southwards from Haute Ville, over the Pétrusse, where Luxembourg City’s railway station was already located. However, the only existing link to the south bank of the Pétrusse was the old viaduct, which (at 5.50 m wide) was too narrow to accommodate all the traffic that would be expected between two halves of the city.^[1]

In 1896, the government hired Albert Rodange to draw up plans for a new bridge. Rodange identified the future bridge’s position, connecting with the main axis of Boulevard Royal, and drew up initial plans for a large stone viaduct. However, as Rodange lacked experience in bridge building, the government invited a foreigner with specific expertise in the field to help design the bridge. Paul Séjourné, a Frenchman with years of experience designing similar viaducts in southern France, was chosen.^[1]