Work will be finalized by the arrival of spring this year.
In a press conference today, Dresden's Mayor Stephan Kühn (Green Party) underscored key points for the rebuilding of the Carolabridge, aiming for a swift, sustainable, and urban-integrated reconstruction, taking into account traffic, environment, shipping, and cityscape concerns.
Kühn emphasized the building of an innovative bridge, tailored to future needs of Dresden, without focusing on expanding the overall structure unnecessarily. The rebuilding plan includes a replacement new build type, which may avoid the need for extensive planning approval procedures. A longer planning period and temporary bridge have previously been supported by the city council.
The replacement new build will prioritize:
- Minimizing construction time
- Safe and demand-oriented traffic facilities for cars, bicycles, pedestrians, and public transport
- Connection of the Elbe cycle path
- Preserving important views
- Meeting the shipping requirements without extra pillars
- Integrating district heating
- Constructing a robust, low-maintenance, durable, and resilient structure
A committee will be formed, consisting of members of the city council, representatives from the Free State of Saxony, and various economic, traffic, and environmental associations. This group will be briefed on all essential steps of the planning process and will provide advisory input, such as evaluating offers during the procurement procedure. The committee’s involvement concludes with the final construction decision, encompassing both object and structural planning, as well as the design of the new Carolabridge.
Those interested can follow the project updates at www.dresden.de/carolabruecke.
The CDU faction in the Dresden city council advocates for a swift replacement new build featuring four car lanes. It is suggested that the pedestrian and bicycle traffic may be situated beneath the bridge structure with trams and cars utilizing two levels. CDU leader Heike Ahnert emphasized that existing regulations allow for adjustments, though a markedly different or historical bridge remains infeasible due to prolonged approval proceedings.
The Society for Historical Neumarkt Dresden (GHND) has expressed that the rebuilding should not extend beyond the maximum dimensions of the Carolabridge completed in 1971 (32 meters). They oppose the widening of the two-lane replacement new build to 39 meters, highlighting the fact that such a bridge would be seven meters wider than the original. The GHND argues that widening is unnecessary according to traffic development forecasts, as the width of the Albert bridge with two bicycle and pedestrian paths is only 22.2 meters. A wider bridge would cost more and negatively impact the silhouette of the old town.
Verkehrswende Dresden spokesperson Noah Wolu advanced the notion that a car-free bridge would be a progressive step, offering potential construction cost savings of a two-digit million euro amount, as well as unlocking funding programs for tram and cycle bridges at state, federal, and EU levels that could reduce municipal spending by up to 75 percent [4]. A car-free Carol Bridge could spur Dresden’s mobility transition and contribute to a socially just transition by directing funds saved into areas such as education, health, culture, and public transport [4].
From a mobility perspective, the concept of a car-free Carol Bridge aligns with the trend of decreasing car traffic in Dresden, which has been ongoing for decades. Alternatively, growth in public transport, cycling, and pedestrian traffic is projected to remain significant in the years ahead [4]. The new Carol Bridge will act as the central piece of Dresden’s mobility puzzle, connecting the university, main station, and old town with the new town and industrial north, facilitating efficient daily travel for tens of thousands of people [4].
BUND regional group Dresden chairman Florian Wendler supports the idea that the new bridge should not be oversized. A slim bridge design meets traffic requirements while minimizing disruption in natural areas and blending urban life with ecological concerns. Wendler also emphasized that the new bridge serves as an opportunity to better integrate cycling and pedestrian paths with street level and the Elbe cycle path [2].
These various perspectives underscore the importance of Dresden’s rebuilding effort to consider sustainable, modern mobility solutions, public participation, supporting digital innovation, and increasing safety measures to produce a functional, accessible, and attractive infrastructure asset for the city’s future.
The committee, comprising members from various economic, traffic, and environmental associations, will play a crucial role in ensuring the new Carolabridge meets modern requirements, prioritizing factors such as traffic demands, district heating, and low maintenance.
Discussions on the rebuilding of the Carolabridge also highlight the importance of sustainable mobility solutions, with proposals ranging from car-free designs to prioritizing pedestrian, cyclist, and public transport facilities.
