Crossings
Several railway lines and federal roads (Autobahnen and Bundesstraßen) cross the canal on eleven fixed links. The bridges have a clearance of 42 metres (138 ft) allowing for ship heights up to 40 metres (130 ft). The oldest bridge still in use is the Levensau High Bridge from 1893; however, the bridge will have to be replaced in the course of a canal expansion already underway. In sequence and in the direction of the official kilometre count from west (Brunsbüttel) to east (Holtenau) these crossings are:
- Brunsbüttel High Bridge, four lane crossing of Bundesstraße 5
- Hochdonn High Bridge of the Marsh Railway
- Hohenhörn High Bridge for Autobahn 23
- Grünental High Bridge for railway line Neumünster-Heide and Bundesstraße 204
- Rendsburg High Bridge for the Neumünster–Flensburg railway, also a transporter bridge for local traffic
- Kanaltunnel Rendsburg, road tunnel for Bundesstraße 77 (four lanes)
- Rade High Bridge for Autobahn A7
- Levensau High Bridge from 1893 for the Kiel–Flensburg railway and a local road
- New Levensau High Bridge for Bundesstraße 76 (four lanes)
- Holtenau High Bridges, two parallel bridges with three car lanes each as well as pavements for pedestrians and cyclists
Local traffic is catered for by 14 ferry lines and a pedestrian tunnel. Most noteworthy is the “hanging ferry” (German: Schwebefähre) beneath the Rendsburg High Bridge. All ferries are run by the Canal Authority and their use is free of charge.
Read more about this topic: Kiel Canal