Are there guidelines or incentives for high-quality Baukultur?

The Rhaetian Railway held a competition in 2015 for a second Hinterrhein Bridge. The participants were called upon to design a new bridge that would complement the existing 1896 heritage truss bridge, span the motorway and blend in well with the landscape. Forty-two teams from all across Europe entered the competition. The winning project was submitted by the engineering consortium comprising WaltGalmarini of Zurich in collaboration with COWI UK Limited of London.

Does the place serve its purpose?

Until 2018, the train from Chur to Thusis will cross the Hinterrhein on a single-track bridge after leaving the Reichenau-Tamins station. Although the route up to this point had been upgraded to a double-track line in the 1960s, the section over the river remained a single track, often causing delays for oncoming trains. Since the new bridge was built alongside the listed Hinterrhein Bridge, the operational bottleneck has been remedied. Around eight trains now cross the river every hour.

Does the place foster sustainable mobility?

Reichenau is the starting point for several strolls and hikes along the Vorderrhein and Hinterrhein rivers. Since the renovation of the historic bridge over the Hinterrhein, the former maintenance walkway within the lower part of the bridge has been opened to the public, providing a new link for non-motorised traffic. From the station, a new footpath leads through the listed bridge, offering views of steel engineering from two different centuries, Reichenau Castle and the confluence of the Vorderrhein and Hinterrhein rivers.

Are the construction materials and methods durable, require little maintenance, and maintain or even enhance the place’s value?

The historic bridge has been in use since 1896. Its corrosion protection was renewed in 1958, when the diagonals, webs and gusset plates of the truss structure were also strengthened by welding on additional reinforcements. After the new bridge was completed in 2018, the monument was restored again. The piers of the new bridge are made of concrete and steel, as is the superstructure. The connections are designed and built to resist material fatigue, and the bridge is low maintenance.

Does the place foster shared responsibility for private and public spaces?

The new bridge is situated in an extraordinary topographical and historical landscape. This is where the Hinterrhein and Vorderrhein rivers meet. The hilly landscape south of the station is listed in the Federal Inventory of Landscapes and Natural Monuments of National Importance. In addition, Reichenau Castle and the village centre of Tamins are listed in the Federal Inventory of Swiss Sites of National Importance. The site is interesting from a bridge-building point of view because five bridges cross the Rhine here.

Does present-day design improve the quality of the existing?

In the competition programme, the Rhaetian Railway drew attention to the exceptional location and to the value of the historic bridge. The designers of the winning entry ensured that their new bridge is concealed behind the listed structure when viewed from the north. When viewed from the south, the V-shaped struts of the new bridge, which is approximately 200 metres long, can be seen positioned directly in front of the piers of the existing bridge. Together they make a beautiful couple, despite their difference in age.

Are local, regional and historical values integrated into the design and management of the place?

The new bridge takes its cue from the listed structure in its choice of materials, its dimensions and the position of the piers. As a result, it is barely visible from the north. The new bridge, built to the south of the existing one, carries rail traffic over the Albula line, with more trains travelling over the new bridge and into the Engadine than over the old bridge towards Ilanz. The augmented crossing thus reduces the loads imposed on the listed structure and extends its service life.

Does the place have an atmospheric impact on the beholder?

The bridge pair is in a setting of contrasts. Situated in the valley, it is surrounded by the river landscape of the Rhine, the wide-open agricultural fields, the historic Reichenau Castle, the high mountains and, at the same time, the A13 motorway. Depending on one’s vantage point, the idyllic scenery or the built infrastructure comes to the fore. Within a small area, five differently constructed bridges offer distant views and close-up observations.