It was only on Wednesday that a Notice to Mariners (BfS) stated that the Wolgast Peene Bridge would remain closed for the time being. This mainly affected pleasure craft, which could not pass under the bridge whilst the bridge deck was closed. For these vessels, the passage between the northern and southern branches of the Peene was blocked.
Road traffic, however, was still able to use the bridge. With the bascule section closed, motorists were able to travel freely between the mainland and the island of Usedom.
Fault rectified much more quickly
It was unclear when the disruption would be resolved. The expected time for the disruption to end The WSV initially set the date as Friday 11 September 2026. According to information from the *Ostsee-Zeitung* A faulty timing belt is said to have caused the technical problems at the Peene Bridge in Wolgast. It has now emerged that the problems could have been resolved much more quickly. The Peene Bridge at Wolgast is reopening during its usual opening hours.
New Peenestrom Bridge, 42 metres high
The Wolgast bridge over the Peene, which is around 30 years old, is used by both road traffic and rail. The movable section of the bridge opens at set times to allow taller vessels and pleasure craft to pass through. In the past, there have been repeated instances of works and restrictions affecting the bridge.
A bypass is currently being built to ease traffic congestion in Wolgast built with a new crossing over the Peenestrom, the new Peenestrom Bridge. According to official figures, the bridge, which is approximately 1.4 kilometres long, is to have a clear height of 42 metres. According to the current schedule, the entire bypass, which is approximately 6.8 kilometres long, is due to open at the end of 2029. Construction has therefore been delayed compared with earlier plans.
The building site may further disrupt shipping traffic
Regardless of the current fault, motorboat users should expect disruption in the vicinity of the new bridge. According to the Baltic Sea Waterways and Shipping Authority, vessels with restricted manoeuvrability, towed convoys, floating equipment and other work vessels may be operating in the area.
The construction site area to the east of buoy PN 58 should be navigated with caution and at a safe distance. The Notice regarding bridge construction works Specifies VHF channel 09, with the call sign ‘Wolgast Traffic’, for communications. Alternatively, VHF channel 16 may be used.
Short-term closures of the waterway are also possible whilst construction work is in progress. These will be announced separately by the relevant authorities.
