No further fractures have been detected overnight on Dresden's partially collapsed Carola Bridge. However, ships are still unable to pass the bridge due to the expected large temperature fluctuations, as the state capital announced. Passage is "probably impossible" on Wednesday and Thursday.
If the temperatures remain the same, it would be possible to open the bridge to shipping traffic - but only if no new damage is detected, as a city spokeswoman explained.
After the collapse of the Carola Bridge on the night of September 11, the Elbe was closed in this section for five months. The passage was then reopened for commercial shipping at the beginning of February. However, advance booking is required. From Tuesday, travel should then be free in one-way mode without restrictions.
Fractures detected on Tuesday morning and afternoon
On Tuesday morning, fractures were recorded in the prestressing steel on bridge span A of the Carola Bridge, which was still standing. According to the city, the expert office commissioned with the monitoring detected further fractures in the early afternoon.
Demolition work on the collapsed bridge has been suspended for the time being due to the new cracks. According to the city, it can be ruled out that they are responsible for damage to the parts that are still standing, as there are no points of contact with their concrete.
An excavator is currently still working on the Neustadt side and is expected to finish its work on the construction road during the course of the day. On the Elbe, a dredger is also filling holes in the navigation channel and removing gravel and debris.
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