Holger Kalbe, Head of the Bridge and Engineering Structures Department at the City of Dresden, suggested that the collapse of part of the Carola Bridge may have been caused by corrosion. During the GDR era, there was a massive influx of chlorides, Kalbe explained. At the point where the bridge section collapsed, there had previously been a transport company mast. It was possible that large quantities of chlorides had penetrated this area and led to corrosion of the reinforcement inside the bridge. The Carola Bridge, a prestressed concrete bridge consisting of three spans, has already been partially renovated. The collapsed third section should be renovated next year.
Due to its historical and technical significance, the Carola Bridge was listed as a historical monument in 2022. From 2019, various maintenance measures were carried out on the bridge, including the widening of the footpaths and cycle paths. Carbon concrete was used for the first time in large bridge construction to create more space for pedestrians and cyclists. The renovation work on the individual bridge sections A, B and C was carried out in phases and was completed by 2024.
Unfortunately, a serious incident occurred on 11 September 2024 when the western bridge section C with the streetcar tracks and the footpath and cycle path over the Elbe collapsed over a length of around 100 meters. Fortunately, there were no injuries, but there was considerable damage to property and the district heating supply was temporarily interrupted.
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