BUND wants new Carola Bridge in Dresden to have only two lanes

The German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) is calling for a "lean" new construction of Dresden's Carola Bridge with two instead of four lanes. "The replacement of the Carola Bridge is a great opportunity for future-oriented urban development, the mobility transition and the protection of Dresden's Elbe meadows," explained Florian Wendler, head of the BUND regional group in Dresden.

"A slender bridge variant meets all traffic requirements, minimizes the impact on valuable natural areas and combines urban life with ecological demands," argued Wendler. BUND is committed to ensuring that the new bridge is not larger than necessary - in the interests of a liveable, climate-friendly city.

Since a replacement must be provided as soon as possible and at the same time interventions in the protected landscape should be kept to a minimum, BUND believes that a well-planned and carefully executed new replacement structure is the better solution instead of a planning approval procedure.

BUND points to declining numbers

But changes to the bridge are still needed, according to BUND: "For example, current regulations require the cycle paths and footpaths to be wider than before when building a new replacement. At the same time, the number of vehicles crossing the bridge has been falling for years. A bridge variant with two vehicle lanes meets the requirements of all road users and satisfies the forecast traffic volumes."

Dresden's Carola Bridge has three bridge sections. On the night of September 11, 2024, the bridge span for the streetcar and pedestrians collapsed unexpectedly. The other parts of the bridge were also so badly damaged that it had to be completely demolished. The cause of the collapse is believed to be corrosion, which led to the failure of tendons.