The Wallstraßenbrücke is one of Ulm’s most important transport structures. It carries the B10 federal highway over the Kienlesbergstraße and the adjoining railway lines. The structure dates from 1967 to 1969 and, due to its condition, must be completely replaced with a new build. The new bridge will be 187 metres long and constructed in two sections: the western half will be built between 2026 and 2027, followed by the eastern half between late 2027 and early 2029. Full reopening to traffic is scheduled for summer 2029.
The project is being delivered by ARGE B10, a consortium of Matthäus Schmid Bauunternehmung GmbH & Co. KG from Baltringen and LEONHARD WEISS from Göppingen. For the crane and logistics concept at the Wallstraßenbrücke, the consortium is relying on a long-standing partner: Nagel Mietservice GmbH from Ulm. Developed in close collaboration, Nagel Mietservice is responsible for project management, technical planning, and provides the crane technology flexibly for partner Matthäus Schmid.
High-performance top-slewing cranes with Fibre technology
On 12 March 2026, the Nagel Technik Service team erected the first Liebherr 520 EC-B 20 Fibre on site. The flat-top crane operates with a jib radius of 80 metres and a hook height of 52 metres. Its maximum load capacity is 20 tonnes. With its long jib, it covers the entire main construction area and handles the heaviest lifts, including the installation of formwork units and reinforcement cages between the live rail tracks.
A second Liebherr 520 EC-B 20 Fibre followed on 16 March 2026, on the opposite side of the construction area. With a 60-metre jib and 35-metre hook height, it is designed for shorter cycle times and faster handling processes in denser working areas. Together, the two cranes ensure full coverage of the site with optimised load distribution.
Both cranes are equipped with Liebherr’s Fibre technology, in which high-performance fibre ropes replace conventional steel ropes. This significantly reduces the weight of the hoist ropes and, based on the existing components, enables a 40 per cent increase in load capacity compared with equivalent steel-rope cranes. It also brings improved handling and reduced maintenance requirements. The fibre ropes have a total service life of 14 years. In the event of damage, up to 80 per cent of all rope damage can be repaired quickly and easily directly on site, without the time and cost of a full rope replacement. The modular EC-B system also allows project-specific configuration in terms of tower height, jib length and load capacity characteristics.
Flexible support from top-slewing and self-erecting cranes
At the Blaubeurer Tor, a Liebherr 81 K is in operation. The self-erecting crane handles material distribution, logistical support tasks and the supply of peripheral areas. It stands out for its short set-up times and efficient operation with smaller loads.
From 17 April 2026, a Liebherr 202 EC-B completes the crane system. The flat-top crane handles lifting operations in formwork and reinforcement construction. In addition, three Liebherr 81.1 K cranes are being added by ARGE partner LEONHARD WEISS. The three self-erecting cranes are designed for high handling capacity with a small footprint and take care of fine logistics within the site.
Millimetre-precise work under demanding conditions
The site’s location between rail and traffic routes places high demands on precision, load capacity and safety. Up to 86,000 vehicles pass along the B10 in a north-south direction every day, and the site spans a total of 14 railway tracks. Lifting formwork sections into position between the tracks, as well as placing reinforcement cages, requires millimetre-precise lifting movements. Modern assistance and safety systems on the cranes deployed support reliable and efficient crane operation even under these complex conditions. The interplay between powerful top-slewing cranes and flexible self-erecting cranes forms a coordinated crane system that efficiently covers both heavy individual lifts and rapid material cycles in the immediate working area.
