The preparatory work for the investigation of the railroad bridge in Bad Schandau in Saxon Switzerland has begun. Initial work will begin this Friday, as announced by the State Office for Road Construction and Transport. The bridge in question is the Elbe bridge on the 172 federal road and the aim is to assess the condition of the bridge and to analyze the material properties and condition of the prestressing steel used.
After the partial collapse of the Carola Bridge in Dresden, Saxon bridges along federal and state roads are being examined closely.
According to the state office, the work in Bad Schandau will begin with the erection of a scaffold fitted with a protective tarpaulin. This will serve to protect the adjacent railroad line and traffic routes from dust, particles and other possible pollution.
This was followed by blasting work, during which the bridge's existing surface protection system was removed to reveal potential cracks or weak points. As with the Carola Bridge, which partially collapsed in Dresden, there is a risk of corrosion, which could result in spontaneous failure without prior notice.
