Strengthening of Listed Historic Steel Structures: Overhaul of Viaduct and Stations of the Elevated Railroad Line No. 2 in Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg

Download the article from Stahlbau 06/2011.

Michael Fischer, Werner Lorenz

Preservation and strengthening of listed structures is a civil engineering field likely to cause conflicts. The cultural significance of these edifices imposes the obligation to fulfil heritage requirements. However, load-bearing capacity, fatigue resistance and cost-effectiveness still need to be ensured.

In the case of the viaduct of Berlin’s elevated metro line no. 2, built from 1909 on, the extensive overhaul led to some unusual technical solutions. Initially the installation of a slab track had been proposed, but finally the historical buckled plates were replaced by new ones just changed in detail to correct some shortcomings. Although serving traffic for nearly 100 years, most of the historical bridge bearings could be kept in place. Just a few of them were replaced by slightly changed replicas. Eventually, the viaduct’s overhaul inspired by the original structure proved to be the best solution with regard to heritage, structural and economical requirements.