Committee Recommends Design for Dresden's Carolabrücke

The advisory committee for the reconstruction of Dresden’s Carolabrücke recommends that the city council approve the design by the planning team of LAP and Knight Architects. According to city officials, the decision was extremely close: 14 members of the committee voted for the design by Leonhardt, Andrä und Partner Beratende Ingenieure VBI AG and Knight Architects—to use the full name—and 12 voted for the design by FHECOR and TSSB. The latter design had a slight edge in a public vote, whereas a panel of experts had already voted in favor of the LAP and Knight Architects proposal. 

City Council to Decide on September 3

Both the expert panel’s recommendation and the results of the public participation process were taken into account for the latest deliberations. The recommended winning design now forms the basis for the proposed resolution in the bill submitted to the City Council. The experts’ assessment and the public vote have also been submitted to the City Council. A final decision is scheduled for September 3. 

New Carolabrücke to be completed in 2031

The goal is to submit a design ready for approval by early 2027. To this end, the plans will be further refined and necessary adjustments incorporated. The results are scheduled to be presented to the advisory committee in the spring of next year. Following a decision by the City Council, the call for bids for construction services is then planned for early October 2027. Construction is set to begin in May 2028 and be completed in 2031. The costs are estimated at up to 140 million euros.

The advisory committee’s recommendation was based on the four designs for the reconstruction of the Carola Bridge, which were developed by the various planning teams. Since May 26, these designs have undergone technical reviews, been presented to the public, and discussed in various participatory forums.

The advisory committee provides support to the process in an advisory capacity. It includes all political groups represented on the city council as well as representatives from transportation, business, and environmental associations and chambers of commerce.