Construction industry insists on bridge renovation

Following the partial collapse of the Carola Bridge in Dresden, the Federation of the German Construction Industry is insisting that the renovation of bridges in Germany be given top priority. "The bridge collapse in Dresden is both dramatic and tragic, and it is very fortunate that no people were injured," Managing Director Tim-Oliver Müller told Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland.

"The incident impressively shows how highly sensitive our transport infrastructure is and what an important role our bridges play," said the association representative. Paying attention to these arteries must be a top priority. This applies not only in view of the incident in Dresden. "This is a political task and a social obligation."

Dresden narrowly escaped disaster on Wednesday night when the Carola Bridge partially collapsed. An approximately 100-metre-long section, over which streetcar tracks and a footpath and cycle path ran, collapsed into the Elbe. Another section is in danger of collapsing. No one was injured.

The Carola Bridge is a prestressed concrete bridge built in 1971. Two of its bridge sections, parts A and B, have already been renovated in recent years. Part C, which was due to be renovated next year, has now collapsed. Investigations into the exact cause of the accident are still ongoing, but it is suspected that corrosion could be responsible as a result of poor maintenance in the past.

With regard to the collapse, Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) emphasized that the Carola Bridge is a municipal responsibility and therefore has nothing to do with the federal budget. "But you can see from this bridge how dangerous it is when infrastructure is not invested in carefully."