New tension wire break on the Carola Bridge in Dresden

Another prestressing wire break occurred overnight on Dresden's Carolabrücke bridge, which is in danger of collapsing. It was registered in the night of Maundy Thursday in bridge span B, which was not affected by the collapse in September 2024. As it was in an area with greater residual safety, "there was no danger to shipping", the city administration announced.

Commercial vessels can continue to pass the bridge after registering and obtaining permission. Due to constantly changing conditions such as water levels or instabilities in the river and the structure, the demolition plan has now been updated.

The auxiliary supports for the two suspension girders will now be installed by the end of July. Previously, it was assumed that the bridge sections would be floated out using so-called pontoons from mid-June. It was "an extremely difficult task to dismantle this bridge", said construction mayor Stephan Kühn (Greens). We are not in typical planning mode here, but in daily coordination. "If it were easy, the bridge would already be gone."

Certain Elbe water level required for pontoon approach

Four auxiliary supports are now to be erected by mid-June in order to increase the structure's load-bearing reserve, which was reduced in February. "Only then will it be possible to work under the bridge sections." The bridge sections can then be lifted out onto pontoons using modular vehicles and deposited on the bank, where they can be crushed and transported away. As the pontoons can only reach Dresden by water, the Elbe needs a water level of just over one meter - it is currently at 1.17 meters here.

Preparations for the arrival of the pontoons are underway, as is the construction of further supporting structures. The foundations are also being poured for the scaffolding towers, which will arrive at the end of the week and then be pre-assembled.

The western traffic line of the Elbe crossing collapsed unexpectedly on the night of 11 September 2024 over a length of around 100 meters. Since then, the structure from the GDR era has been closed - and is in acute danger of collapse due to further fractures in the prestressed steel construction. The stability of its remains and debris is permanently monitored and shipping is restricted.

Special shipping regulations for the Dixieland Festival

An exception is made for the traditional Dixieland Festival, however. The Elbe steamers will be allowed to pass the Carola Bridge for the traditional fleet parades on May 1 and May 17, "provided there are no further wire breaks by then". In general, ships are currently only allowed to pass through without passengers and only with the approval of the Elbe Waterways and Shipping Authority (WSA).