Swift Demolition of Dresden's Collapsed Carola Bridge
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Accelerated Construction and Early Completion of the Carol Bridge - Accelerated Destruction of Carolabrücke may Happen Ahead of Schedule
The remaining fragments of the collapsed Carola Bridge in Dresden are being demolished at a faster pace than anticipated. The upcoming White Fleet parade on Thursday won't require the Elbe crossing, according to city hall reports, eliminating the need to halt the demolition work on bridge section C on Wednesday and Thursday. Moreover, the structural health monitoring system, which has been keeping an eye on the structure's stability since the collapse, hasn't detected any critical vibrations in the other two visually intact bridge sections.
Since early morning on Wednesday, heavy demolition excavators weighing 38 to 50 tons have been dismantling the hanging middle parts of the collapsed bridge section on the ground, following the installation of steel tube support pillars. Reports indicate that this process needs a delicate approach, as the debris is balancing on a pillar supporting sections A and B.
The demolition of C's remains will commence starting next week, with the cantilever arm and the box girder ceiling from both sides being dismantled, followed by the footbridges and floor slabs. The debris will be crushed, and the material reused for future projects. Meanwhile, railings or tram overhead line masts will be removed and secured on the other bridge sections. Concurrently, the construction of auxiliary structures using well rings as supports for the land-based bridge parts is underway.
The western traffic lane of the Elbe crossing unexpectedly collapsed over approximately 100 meters in length during the night of September 10, 2024, making it a dangerously unstable relic of the GDR era. The city council plans to decide on a replacement for the Carola Bridge before summer 2025, favoring a quick and modern restoration of the Elbe crossing to preserve essential transportation links. The construction timeframe and completion date for the new bridge have yet to be announced.
- Dresden
- Collapsed Bridge
- Demolition
- White Fleet
Insights:- The Carola Bridge in Dresden has been closed since September 11, 2024, following an unexpected collapse over 100 meters. The remaining debris is in imminent danger of further collapse due to fractures in the prestressed steel construction.- The city council intends to decide on a replacement plan for the Carola Bridge before summer 2025. The timeline for the new bridge construction and completion is still uncertain, but construction may start shortly after planning finalization.- The demolition of the collapsed section C is currently underway, with debris removal set for next week. Other bridge sections are also being dismantled and secured, auxiliary structures are being built for stability, and the city administration is continuously monitoring the stability of the debris for safety.- Germany faces challenges in replacing or repairing aging bridges, with these projects likely spanning several years and requiring significant resources.- There has been an interruption in the demolition work due to tension wire breaks in February 2025, but the work has since resumed following the installation of additional steel pipe supports to stabilize the remaining structure.
In the ongoing demolition of the collapsed Carola Bridge in Dresden, the removal of debris from the collapsed section C is scheduled for next week. Amidst this, discussions about potential financing for the proposed replacement bridge are happening in the industry, with the city administration looking to ensure essential transportation links are preserved. Furthermore, as the White Fleet parade draws closer, the city hall has confirmed that the parade route will avoid crossing the Elbe, which means the demolition work on section C won't be halted as anticipated.
