Ambitious undertaking
In the heart of Düsseldorf, the city council has made a significant decision regarding the construction of the Theodor-Heuss-Bridge. The project, now under the supervision of the finance department, led by City Treasurer Dorothee Schneider, will see the bridge built in a smaller version without a tram line.
This decision was confirmed by Stephan Keller during the local election campaign in 2025, a change from the originally planned Straßenbahn (tram) tracks. The downsized design appears to be welcomed by some local stakeholders, as it reduces potential disruptions or changes to traffic and urban dynamics in the Golzheim district.
The residents' initiative, "Save Golzheim!", has been critical of the new construction since spring, suspecting that a broader bridge design, the possible construction of a streetcar track, and the resumption of heavy truck traffic would negatively impact the living and recreational quality in Golzheim, particularly in the Rheinpark.
However, Petra Sander, another member of the initiative, mentioned that cities like Paris are setting concepts against too much car traffic. Sander emphasized that heavy traffic should not have to drive through the city.
Tender documents for the preliminary investigation and preliminary planning need to be prepared, and the construction survey and land survey must be carried out. The city administration is now able to make essential preparations for both planning and construction of the bridge.
IPM, the city's in-house company specializing in high-rise buildings, will take over the further planning and construction task. Angela Hussla, a member of the initiative, expressed concerns about the architecture of protected historic brick buildings on Uerdinger Street potentially being overwhelmed by the new construction.
The city council will decide on the bridge cross-section and further planning steps in a subsequent step. The goal is to allow a streetcar to cross the bridge by the end of the first quarter of 2026. The city council has allocated a total of 22.2 million euros for the project.
The "Save Golzheim!" petition, which has gathered several thousand signatures, continues to voice its concerns about the impact of the new bridge construction on the Golzheim district. The current status of the project remains a topic of discussion among local residents and stakeholders.
[1] Source: Düsseldorf City Council Meeting Minutes, 12th October 2025.
The city council's decision to construct the Theodor-Heuss-Bridge, now overseen by the finance department, is a significant move in Düsseldorf's business sector, as the project will be financed with a total of 22.2 million euros. With the bridge built in a smaller version without a tram line, the potential disruptions or changes to traffic and urban dynamics in the Golzheim district may be minimal, as some local stakeholders suggest.
