Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer said at the Dresden CDU's New Year's reception in the Ballsportarena on 9 January 2025 that he wanted to rebuild the Carola Bridge, which partially collapsed in September 2024, within two years. In front of hundreds of guests, he said: "Contractors would laugh their heads off that this project should take five years."
The Carola Bridge, the most important crossing over the Elbe in the state capital of Dresden, partially collapsed on the night of September 11, 2024. An approximately 100-metre-long section of bridge C collapsed into the Elbe, fortunately without any personal injury.
Investigations revealed that stress corrosion cracking was the main cause of the collapse. An expert opinion confirmed that the entire bridge, including the already renovated bridge sections A and B, must be demolished.
The planned speedy reconstruction of the bridge is of great importance to the people of Dresden, as the Carola Bridge plays a central role in the city's transport network. The failure of the bridge has led to considerable traffic disruptions and placed a heavy burden on the city's infrastructure.
The city of Dresden now faces the challenge of organizing the reconstruction of the Carola Bridge efficiently and transparently. Both technical and bureaucratic hurdles need to be overcome. Whether Kretschmer's dream scenario is realistic and he will see cars and trains crossing the Carola Bridge again from the State Chancellery in 2027 remains to be seen.
The collapse of the Carola Bridge has highlighted the vulnerability of ageing infrastructure in Germany and sparked a debate about the need for regular maintenance and rapid renovation. The planned reconstruction offers the opportunity to use modern construction methods and materials to ensure the longevity and safety of the bridge.
