Overview

• Demolition of the partially collapsed Carolabrücke is nearly complete, with removal work set to finish ahead of the June 19 city council meeting
• The Stadtrat will decide on a four-lane replacement on June 19, aiming to restore capacity for commercial traffic, emergency services and daily commuters
• Industry and trade associations led by IHK and Handwerkskammer warn that any delay will drive up costs and extend crippling traffic jams
• City officials project that an expedited replacement could reopen three to six years sooner than a fully new bridge plan requiring lengthy approvals
• The collapse has highlighted aging infrastructure risks along the Elbe River and prompted safety inspections of other Saxony bridges