Galleries with cafes above pedestrian lane, lookouts, greenery and 19 rest areas across Sava River – Details of reconstruction of Old Rail Bridge published

The company Belgrade Waterfront has submitted a request to the Ministry of Environmental Protection for a decision on the need for an environmental impact assessment for the reconstruction project of the Old Rail Bridge over the Sava, which envisages its conversion into a pedestrian and bicycle bridge with new public facilities.

According to the preliminary design developed by Mostprojekt AD, the existing bridge will also be reconstructed to become a new pedestrian and bicycle connection between the two banks of the Sava. In addition to space for pedestrians and cyclists, the bridge will also be adapted to the passage of emergency, service and delivery vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tons.

One of the most significant interventions will be raising the entire structure by 2.6 meters in order to ensure the prescribed height of the waterway on the international river. In this way, the free profile under the bridge will be increased from the current 6.9 to the required 9.5 meters.

The project envisages the removal of part of the structure on the New Belgrade side, between pillars S4 and S6, in order to enable the development of park areas and the connection of the bridge with the planned Linear Park. The remaining part of the bridge will be reconstructed and will form a new functional unit.

The bridge will not only be a traffic connection, but also a new public space. Extensions with cafes and viewpoints are planned in the areas of pillars S2 and S3, which will be located above the pedestrian path so as not to hinder the movement of users. They will be reachable by stairs and elevators.

Rest and relaxation areas will be created on the pedestrian surface itself, including rhomboid extensions – so-called “cubes” – which will increase the width of the bridge from 6.5 to a maximum of eight meters. A total of 19 such extensions are planned, arranged around pillars S2 and S3.

Special emphasis is placed on the greening of the bridge. Planters with ornamental grasses, perennials, lavender, sage, sedum and other species resistant to wind and drought are planned, as well as accent multi-trees on some extensions, which would make the bridge a continuation of the planned Linear Park.

The project also includes the construction of the complete infrastructure necessary for the functioning of future facilities - water supply and sewage networks, electrical power, telecommunications and mechanical installations. The bridge structure also includes space for the passage of heating and long-distance pipelines, as well as other existing and future utility installations.

The old rail bridge, built at the end of the 19th century and renovated several times throughout history, according to planning documents has long been planned for repurposing after the cessation of rail traffic.

I. Z.

Beograd na vodi d.o.o. Beograd

Ministarstvo zaštite životne sredine Republike Srbije

Mostprojekt a.d. Beograd

Belgrade Waterfront

Ministry of Environmental Protection

Mostprojekt AD

request for deciding on the need for an environmental impact assessment for the reconstruction project of the Old Rail Bridge over the Sava

old rail bridge Belgrade