Search

The chance of the big picture – holistic design, planning and implementation of the A 3 motorway section between Erlangen and Würzburg Highways are – with their numerous structures – not only the elementary basis of our mobile civilization, but also a conspicuous and thus formative component of our built environment and landscape. Some 100 years after the construction of the first intersection‐free roads, the evolved highway network presents itself as a collection of mostly purely functional structures from different decades. The major PPP project "Expansion of the A 3 between the Würzburg/Biebelried and Fürth/Erlangen interchanges" is an almost unique opportunity to renew one of the most heavily trafficked European trunk roads on an approx. 80 km long section according to uniform criteria: Timeless design with harmonious integration into highly variable landscapes, high material efficiency, durability and the best possible structural design of all components. Premature obsolescence due to structural defects, vandalism or short‐lived design must be avoided. In 2015, on the initiative of the client, an intensive, interdisciplinary collaboration with architects, civil engineers and landscape planners began. The result in 2017 was a comprehensive design manual and, building on this, specifications and plans for the design and construction of all bridges and noise barriers for the entire project. 113 bridges will be renewed and more than 45 km of noise protection facilities will be built. A holistic view of the highway section to be upgraded instead of the summation of numerous individual measures of varying quality and appearance, honored with the Polis Award in silver and an award at the German Bridge Construction Prize 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]