BRUGG Pipes supplied the pre-insulated district heating pipes for WWZ’s new pipe bridge over the A4 motorway between Holzhäusern and Rotkreuz. The crossing closes a critical gap in the Ennetsee heating network and enables the efficient transport of renewable heat to the municipalities in the Zug region. The further expansion of the network will save around 12,000 tons of CO₂ annually – a key contribution to the regional energy transition. This project milestone was achieved in close partnership with WWZ, B+S, Hodel SHLK, ASTRA, and the Zug police.
BRUGG Pipes supplied the pre-insulated pipes for the new pipe bridge over the A4 motorway. The bridge element was lifted into place during the night of October 21 to 22, 2025. The installation was carried out in prefabricated segments in order to minimize the duration of the motorway closure. Two district heating pipes and additional cable connections run across the bridge.
“I am thrilled with how WWZ, B+S, Hodel SHLK, and the other partners have implemented this project in a spirit of cooperation and with the utmost precision. Laying our pipes using our own bridge is definitely not an everyday occurrence. I am therefore all the more delighted that the installation was successful and that our pre-insulated pipe systems are now supporting the expansion of the Ennetsee heating network and decarbonization,” says Martin Rigaud, CEO of BRUGG Pipes.
Significance for the Ennetsee heating network
The pipe bridge connects existing and new sections of the Ennetsee heating network. The expansion will connect additional neighborhoods and commercial sites in Rotkreuz, Cham, and neighboring areas to the district heating network. The heat in the network comes mainly from waste heat sources and is distributed via an increasingly dense network.
Technology and execution
The district heating pipes are thermally insulated and designed for operation on bridge structures. Temperature-related length changes were taken into account in the design. Fixed points and slide bearings absorb the movements of the pipes in a controlled manner. The bridge segments were lifted into place while the A4 was completely closed. The traffic and safety measures were coordinated with the relevant authorities.
Ennetsee expansion on track
The Ennetsee heating network is growing in stages. Sections have already been completed or are under construction along central axes, including Luzernerstrasse and Holzhäusernstrasse. Further sections are gradually being put into operation. Work is underway on the section towards Cham. According to current plans, WWZ will be able to supply district heating to Cham from fall 2026. WWZ provides ongoing information about construction zones, schedules, and commissioning on the project page. WWZ uses waste heat from the Renergia waste incineration plant in Perlen as its energy source.
Collaboration
WWZ is the project developer. B+S AG was responsible for planning and construction management of the bridge. The installation company Hodel SHLK AG was involved in the project as a pipe constructor. BRUGG Pipes supplied the pre-insulated pipe systems and provided technical support during implementation. The work was carried out in coordination with the Federal Roads Office and the Zug police.
Image sources: B+S AG