The demolition of a damaged bridge over Highway 14 near Grimma in the Leipzig district has proceeded faster than planned. As a result, the complete closure of the highway, which has been in effect since Friday evening, is expected to be lifted as early as Sunday, according to the federal highway authority Autobahn GmbH. The section was originally scheduled to remain closed until Monday morning. The highway authority will provide an update as soon as the road reopens.
The structure being demolished is the so-called “21Ü2” overpass, a bridge spanning the highway between the towns of Grottewitz and Würschwitz. A special inspection had revealed that the structure was in critical condition. According to Autobahn GmbH, the demolition will cost around 700,000 euros. A new overpass is scheduled to be built by 2028 at a cost of around three million euros.
Ten other bridges along Highway 14 between Leipzig and Nossen are still under special observation. They were built between 1969 and 1972 and contain Hennigsdorf prestressing steel, which played a role in the collapse of the Carolabrücke in Dresden. The bridges are being monitored to quickly detect any deterioration in their condition.
