After months of closure, traffic is once again flowing over the Elbe bridge in Bad Schandau - now the investigations for a temporary bridge are beginning. According to the State Office for Road Construction and Transport, these investigations are an essential step towards drawing up the necessary design and implementation plans. Further planning will therefore largely depend on the results of the subsoil investigations.
According to previous information from the Ministry of Infrastructure, the temporary bridge will cost a total of 31 million euros - as a replacement during the planned renewal of the Elbe bridge.
Drilling for subsoil investigations
A total of 19 drilling points with depths of between 15 and 20 meters will be carried out. Various methods will be used to investigate the subsoil in detail. These are necessary as the substructures, such as piers and abutments, are to be constructed using sheet piling.
The preparatory work should be completed by 9 May. Between May 12 and June 20, drilling and exploratory work will be carried out at various locations. According to the state office, selective traffic restrictions are unavoidable during the measures. These include closures of footpaths, narrowing of lanes or speed reductions. However, all restrictions are to be announced well in advance.
Bridge was closed on November 7
The Elbe bridge in Bad Schandau was unexpectedly closed to all traffic on November 7, 2024 for safety reasons. This resulted in considerable restrictions, as the next bridge for road traffic crosses the Elbe 20 kilometers away in Pirna.
This was preceded by a special inspection following the partial collapse of Dresden's Carola Bridge on 11 September 2024. Henningsdorf prestressing steel is used in both structures. As the bridge in Bad Schandau was built immediately after the Carola Bridge using a similar construction method, it was considered to be at a similar risk of stress corrosion cracking, which is said to have caused the collapse of one of three bridge sections in Dresden.
After a load test, the bridge was reopened to cars and trucks up to 7.5 tons as well as cyclists and pedestrians this April.
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