Dresden's Carolabrücke Faces New Structural Failures, Halting Elbe Shipping

A recent steel cable break has led to the suspension of river traffic, with the bridge deemed at risk of collapse and slated for expedited demolition.

A new steel cable fracture was discovered on the Carolabrücke in Dresden on the night of February 27, 2025, over the Elbe pier on the Altstadt side.
The bridge, already partially collapsed in September 2024, has been declared at high risk of total failure due to ongoing structural issues caused by stress corrosion cracking.
Shipping on the Elbe has been suspended for at least 72 hours, with controlled passage potentially resuming Monday if no further damage is detected.
The city has contracted a demolition firm to begin dismantling the remaining sections of the bridge as quickly as possible due to safety concerns.
The structural failures have disrupted commercial and passenger ship traffic, highlighting the urgent need for infrastructure repair and replacement.