Berlin's Wuhlheide Bridge Demolition: Tram Services to Resume Soon

The recent demolition of the Wuhlheide Bridge in Berlin has caused significant disruptions to tram services, but improvements are on the horizon. The bridge, which served as a key connection between Köpenick and the rest of the city, has been closed for several days due to safety concerns. However, officials have announced that tram services are expected to resume by Thursday.

According to the Berlin Transport Senator, Ute Bonde, the section of the bridge that has already been dismantled will be reopened for tram operations shortly. This change is anticipated to alleviate the tense traffic situation that has arisen due to the bridge's closure. In addition to tram services, emergency vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists will also see improved access starting on Thursday.

Before resuming regular operations, test runs will be conducted overnight from Wednesday to Thursday. Following these tests, a shuttle service will be established, with hopes that full tram services will be operational by Saturday. This plan is contingent upon receiving the necessary clearance to reactivate the tram line.

From 9 AM on Thursday, emergency services such as ambulances and police will also be allowed to pass through the area, specifically towards Treskowallee and Edisonstraße. To facilitate this, safety personnel will manage the access points and allow emergency vehicles to cross the tracks, mitigating the delays they have faced while navigating detours.

The Berlin Transport Company (BVG) has indicated that they are committed to restoring tram services as quickly as possible. They will reinstate the connection between Schöneweide and Blockdammweg as soon as the route is cleared, initially operating it as a shuttle service. Full service is expected to resume by the weekend, assuming that the clearance signal is received as anticipated.

Officials have also noted that pedestrians and cyclists will be able to navigate from Treskowallee to Edisonstraße starting Thursday. Since there are currently no traffic lights at the intersection, safety personnel will regulate both the tram operations and the movement of foot and cycle traffic.

The demolition of the deteriorating Wuhlheide Bridge began on Saturday, following a complete closure that had been in effect since the previous Monday. This closure extended to all forms of traffic beneath the bridge, which is 245 meters long, affecting trams, cyclists, and pedestrians alike. A prior ban on bridge traffic had been in place since late April due to increasing structural concerns identified during regular inspections.

The closure has led to considerable traffic disruptions both on the roads and the tram network, with several tram lines still experiencing interruptions. On the Köpenick side, trams are currently operating in isolation without connectivity to the broader tram network.

While initial improvements for vehicular traffic are expected by June 6, 2025, the full reopening of the bridge area will depend on ongoing construction progress and weather conditions. Currently, six out of nine demolition sections have been removed, with the entire project expected to conclude by June 27.