Minden Aqueduct

The Minden Aqueduct (German: Wasserstraßenkreuz Minden) is an aqueduct near Minden, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It actually consists of two parallel water bridges, that lead the Mittellandkanal over the Weser. The older of the two bridges is no longer used for traffic. After the Magdeburg Water Bridge it is the biggest water bridge in Europe.

The aqueduct is part of an intersection of waterways: the Mittelandkanal is connected with the Weser by two branch canals.

Canal bridge

Old bridge

The first canal bridge over the river Weser was built in 1914. It is a 370 meter long concrete construction. At the end of WWII it was destructed by the retreating German army in 1945. In 1949 the renovated bridge could be put to use again.

New bridge

Over the years the ships used became larger and therefore the canal to small. Hence in 1993 works on a new bridge started. It is built of steel and opened in 1998

Connection canal North

The Connection canal North at the Wasserstraßenkreuz Minden is in the west of the canal bridge the shortest connection between Mittellandkanal and Weser. It's 1.2 km long makes the approach to the Abstiegsthafen possible.

Schachtschleuse

Weserschleuse Minden

Connectioncanal South

Apart from the Schachtschleuse on the left Weser bank is the Connectioncanal South on the right Weser band with two locks is also a connection between Mittellandkanal and Weser. Between the both locks is the Industriehafen Minden and the mouth area to the Weser to the old Weser harbor with the meanwhile economically given up Weser shipyard.