Friday, October 31
For almost 100 years, the U1 and U3 have been running over the viaduct in Gleisdreieck Park. Investigations have revealed that the structure is dilapidated and that the bridge, along with a neighbouring one, has to be rebuilt. The BVG wants to replace the railway bridges with new structures, which will have consequences for the U1 and U3.
According to an announcement by the Senate, “the plans will be made available for public inspection from 3 November. Anyone who has objections to the project can submit them to the Senate Department for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection and Environment by 2 January 2026.”
The initial details of the construction plans foresee the felling of 15 trees and the occupation of around 1.1 hectares of parkland in Friedrichshain- Kreuzberg and Mitte. The construction is scheduled to begin in 2028 and finish in June 2030. The construction work will have a major impact on passengers. Since the bridges cannot be replaced while the underground is in operation, passengers must expect long closures and replacement services. The closure will affect the approximately 57,500 daily users of the U1 and U3.
Inspectors first discovered significant damage to the steel structure in July 2016. Since then, underground trains on lines U1 and U3 have only been allowed to cross the bridge at a reduced speed of 40 kilometres per hour instead of the permitted 50 kilometres per hour. Despite the long-known damage, it took almost ten years for the planning approval process to begin in October 2025.
