Grasbrook and Veddel

As islands on the Elbe, Veddel and Grasbrook are surrounded by water and major traffic routes. These not only separate the districts from the "rest" of Hamburg, but also from each other. Long-distance trains, suburban trains and freight trains as well as the trucks of the port industry travel on the 110-meter-wide traffic route consisting of railroad tracks and a multi-lane road. The route forms a barrier between the two districts that needs to be overcome.

The wide traffic route restricts the mobility of local people and is an obstacle to the joint development of both urban areas. In various participation formats that have accompanied the entire planning process to date, such as the planning workshops as part of the "Competitive dialog" 2019/2020, many Veddel residents have made it clear that they have been missing basic services in their district for years - such as shopping facilities and good transport connections.

The functional and open space planning for the new district was therefore designed in such a way that Veddel and Grasbrook can form a common urban space. Several new bridges and the existing pedestrian underpass are intended to overcome the barrier between the two districts. They will help Veddel and Grasbrook to grow together and complement each other. As an important new link, the Veddel bridge offers residents of the district direct access to the new U4 subway station above Moldauhafen , providing a further connection to local public transport.

New bridge building

The most important connection between the two neighborhoods will be the “ Veddel ” bridge, running from Veddel’s market square to the new town square on the Grasbrook side. Whether on foot, by bike, in a wheelchair, or with a stroller, people can travel safely and without barriers from “ Veddel ” to Grasbrook and back.
The town square in Grasbrook can thus become a shared hub for both neighborhoods, featuring an elementary school, shopping and recreational opportunities, and community facilities. The new U4 subway station is also being built here, “floating” above the Moldauhafen . The design of the Veddel Bridge will be determined through a competition in 2025, accompanied by opportunities for public participation.

For example, Veddel will benefit from the new offerings on Grasbrook, while Grasbrook residents and employees will also be able to use the existing gastronomic, sporting and cultural offerings on Veddel . New development potential is also being created in the north of Veddel as part of a parallel urban development process. The connections to Rothenburgsort and to HafenCity are also to be expanded.