Carola Bridge Dresden: Possible reopening of the bridge A

An important difference between the collapsed bridge span C and the possibly still usable bridge span A is the protection provided by a closed asphalt cover. This protective coating prevented moisture and brine from penetrating the structure of bridge span A. It is therefore hoped that this bridge will be in better condition and could be reopened for limited use. To ensure this, acoustic emission measurements will be carried out over the next few weeks to identify possible internal damage. In addition, samples will be taken from the demolition material of the collapsed section for chemical and physical analysis.

The aim is to clarify by the beginning of December at the latest whether Bridge A can be reopened to light traffic. An opening would make sense from an economic point of view, as the renovation costs in recent years have been considerable. Nevertheless, safety is paramount: the bridge will only be reopened if there is no residual risk for road users.

Background: The Carola Bridge is an important transport link in Dresden. The collapse of bridge C caused considerable damage and led to extensive demolition work, which had to be paused for two weeks due to the flooding of the Elbe. The city is expecting costs of around seven million euros for the demolition of the destroyed section, including safety concepts and traffic-related effects. Navigation under the bridge will remain closed during the demolition work.