Pirna Bypass: Bridge Defects Discovered in March

Construction defects on the Gottleubatal Bridge, which is intended to be part of the Pirna bypass, were discovered during an inspection in March. During the standard inspection prior to the bridge’s scheduled opening, damage was noticed to the so-called “vouten”—the elements connecting the bridge to its piers— said Holger Behrmann, division manager at the responsible company, Deutsche Einheit Fernstraßenplanungs- und -bau GmbH (Deges), during an on-site visit.

During the concrete pouring process, remnants of the formwork—that is, the casting mold—ended up in the concrete. “This led to voids within the concrete, but also meant that these formwork remnants remained there. They have to be removed,” explained Behrmann. This is the case on four of the five arches.

Construction company must cover costs

The fault lies with the contractor, which must now also cover the costs of rectifying the defects and the associated expenses. According to Behrmann, the renovation plan is currently being developed. The Federal Ministry of Transport and the Free State of Saxony must approve it before it can be implemented.

The plan is to pump concrete into the voids to seal them. “Once the renovation is complete, we expect the structure to be 100 percent in the condition as originally planned,” Behrmann assured.

Completion expected in 2027

Work could begin as early as this year, but will have to be paused during the winter, as Behrmann explained. “We are extremely dependent on the weather, because, of course, the concrete must not freeze.” Completion is expected in 2027; Deges plans to announce a specific date after winter. 

Major project criticized due to cost overruns and delays

The defects in the Gottleubatal Bridge came to light through a response from the federal government to a parliamentary question in the Bundestag. Like the Kohlberg Tunnel, the bridge is part of the future Pirna bypass, which is intended to relieve the city of through traffic.

The construction project had already come under criticism due to significant cost overruns. While the cost estimate in 2017 was still 96.6 million euros, the federal government put the cost in 2025 at 288.4 million euros. In addition, completion has been delayed several times. It was originally scheduled for 2022.