Overview
- A special inspection found broken wires in two of five examined prestressing tendons and extensive localized corrosion, with laboratory analysis of extracted steel due by the end of November.
- Infrastructure minister Regina Kraushaar ruled out repair and directed the state roads authority to begin immediate planning for a replacement bridge, rejecting a tunnel as too slow and too costly with timelines cited up to 15–20 years.
- Traffic has been limited to a single lane in each direction since November 14 with a 60 km/h limit, and further speed reductions are under consideration to reduce load on the structure.
- From November 20, vehicles over 3.5 tonnes are barred, with detours routed via the A38 and A14 and permanent signage slated for early December.
- Leipzig and Markkleeberg renew demands for a tunnel to avoid cutting through the protected Agra Park, while the bridge carries roughly 30,000 vehicles daily and uses Hennigsdorf prestressing steel linked to the Dresden Carolabrücke failure.