Agra Bridge: Leipzig renews demand for tunnel

Leipzig and Markkleeberg are renewing their demand for a tunnel to replace the Agra Bridge, which has to be demolished due to severe damage. According to the city of Leipzig, building a bridge would directly affect the listed Agra Park, through which the bridge runs. "We are missing a great opportunity if we repeat the mistake of the 1970s and cut through the Agra Park again," said Lord Mayor Burkhard Jung (SPD).

"It is now taking its revenge that the option of a tunnel was planned with little emphasis on the part of the Free State in recent years." Now there is time pressure.

Kraushaar: Tunnel not justifiable

Infrastructure Minister Regina Kraushaar (CDU) spoke out against a tunnel solution on Monday. She said that it was not justifiable as a replacement for the bridge. Such a project would be technically complex and could take up to 20 years.

A new replacement for the bridge is the only solution that can be implemented quickly, is legally feasible, can be financed and is reasonable for the region, according to Kraushaar. The State Office for Road Construction and Transport has been instructed to start planning this immediately.

Significant damage to the prestressing steel

The Agra Bridge south of Leipzig has to be demolished due to significant defects. Current investigations have shown serious damage to the bridge's prestressing steel, as Saxony's Ministry of Infrastructure announced on Monday. "The originally assumed service life of ten years is no longer tenable," said Kraushaar.

In order to relieve the strain on the structure and ensure road safety, only vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tons will be allowed to drive over the bridge from Thursday (20 November). Cars will also have to drive slower than before in order to reduce the strain on the bridge.

Hennigsdorf steel like the Carola Bridge

For many years, there have been discussions about the condition of the structure, which was built between 1970 and 1976. Because of the so-called Hennigsdorf prestressing steel used, which was also used in the collapsed Carola Bridge in Dresden, the Agra Bridge is one of 19 bridges in Saxony that are under special observation.