Two months after the Elbe bridge in Bad Schandau was closed, surveying work for a temporary structure has begun. The aim is to determine the optimal location for the planned temporary bridge, according to Transport Minister Regina Kraushaar (CDU). The results should be available in the second half of January. The survey data is also an important basis for planning a new replacement.
The Elbe bridge was unexpectedly closed on November 7 for safety reasons. This was preceded by a special inspection following the partial collapse of Dresden's Carola Bridge. This inspection had revealed an acute need for action for the bridge in the course of federal highway 172 in Bad Schandau. Like the Carola Bridge, the structure is made of prestressed concrete.
Investigations into the closed bridge until June
Detailed investigations into the closed bridge have been underway since November. According to the authorities, they have confirmed the considerable damage to the structure. The bridge is stable - as long as it is not under load. The so-called structural diagnostics should last until June.
The complete closure to any kind of traffic is a burden for the town. The nearest Elbe bridge is around 20 kilometers away in Pirna.
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