Wedoany.com Report-Dec.18, Autobahn GmbH, the federally owned German highways operator, has awarded a Hochtief-led joint venture a contract valued at approximately €450 million ($529.1 million) for a major road infrastructure project in Duisburg, Germany.

Digital rendering of the widened A59 Autobahn outside Duisberg, Germany.

Known as the 'Berliner Brückenzug' project, the initiative involves expanding the A59 highway to six lanes over a 2-kilometer section and modernizing the adjacent A40 interchange.

Work is scheduled to start in January 2026 and reach completion by late 2029.

Hochtief Infrastructure assumes technical leadership in the joint venture, with its share amounting to around €145 million. The partnership includes Eiffage SEH.

Central to the project is the replacement of the Berliner Brückenzug bridge complex, consisting of five interconnected structures spanning a total length of about 1.8 kilometers. These bridges cross the Ruhr river, Rhine-Herne Canal, Duisburg harbor basin, a Deutsche Bahn railway line, and a local city park.

The construction sequence begins with building a new western section to handle southbound traffic. Once operational, the existing bridge will be dismantled and rebuilt. This phased method ensures continuous traffic flow throughout the works.

Significant reconfiguration is also planned at the Duisburg motorway interchange, incorporating new overpasses and improved connections between the A59 and A40 highways to optimize routing during and after construction.

Hochtief CEO Juan Santamaría Cases said: "We are delighted that we can use our experience to help improve transportation infrastructure in the Ruhr region with this major project."

Autobahn's Rheinland division, based in Essen, oversees planning and execution of the expansion.

Since 2020, Hochtief has participated in a separate joint venture constructing the new A40 Rhine bridge at Duisburg-Neuenkamp nearby. The company and its partners are additionally widening the A1 Rhine bridge and a 2.5-kilometer adjoining A1 segment at the Leverkusen interchange to eight lanes between Cologne and Leverkusen.

The A59 functions as a vital north-south corridor in Duisburg, connecting industrial zones, logistics facilities, and commuter routes to broader regional and national networks. Current infrastructure handles substantial daily volumes and requires updating to maintain structural integrity.

The upgrade will enhance capacity and accommodate future traffic growth in Duisburg and the surrounding area. By increasing lanes and modernizing intersections, the project supports more efficient movement of goods and passengers through this densely utilized transport hub.

This award reinforces Hochtief's ongoing role in large-scale German highway developments, applying established expertise to complex urban and river-crossing environments. The joint venture structure combines specialized capabilities to deliver the multifaceted scope on schedule while prioritizing operational continuity for road users.