Carolabrücke in Dresden set for Demolition in June at a Cost of Up to EUR18 Million

Dresden is preparing for the demolition of the structurally compromised Carolabrücke, with work set to commence in June. The city's construction office announced that preparations will begin once the ongoing ordnance clearance is completed, a process expected to take nine weeks.

The aim is to ensure that the Elbe River is navigable again by summer. To facilitate this, a support structure will be erected, and parts of the destroyed bridge that extend into the water will be secured prior to demolition. The remaining sections of the bridge, specifically the middle spans of the still-standing segments A and B, will be detached and transferred onto barges before being dismantled onshore.

Estimated costs for this demolition project are projected to reach up to EUR18 million. City officials express optimism that federal assistance will streamline the clearance of the shipping channel, which is crucial for maintaining the waterway's accessibility in accordance with agreements with the Czech Republic.

The Carolabrücke, a vital transit link built during the DDR era, suffered a significant collapse along its western traffic lane on September 11, 2024, when approximately 100 meters of the structure fell. Following this incident, the remaining sections were closed due to safety concerns, prompting immediate recovery efforts for the fallen bridge components.

As inspections revealed further deterioration, including multiple steel cable failures, experts have warned of an imminent risk of collapse for the still-intact portions of the structure. This has accelerated calls for a complete removal of the bridge.