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Fürth Shuts Zirndorfer Bridge Over Sudden-Failure Risk, Plans Demolition

An expert report found the span lacks crack‑before‑break warning behavior, a concern sharpened by last year’s Carolabrücke collapse in Dresden.

Overview

  • The full closure took effect Friday, 14 November, with the city initiating demolition planning for a replacement structure.
  • A city‑commissioned assessment concluded the bridge could collapse without new cracking, leaving no safety margin for continued use.
  • Roughly 20,000 daily vehicles are being rerouted, with published detours tailored for motor traffic, light microcars, and people on foot or bikes.
  • Engineers have tightened inspection intervals and are installing a sensitive monitoring system to manage risks for traffic passing beneath.
  • Previous weight and height limits were frequently violated, triggering over €100,000 in repair costs; officials aim to accelerate the rebuild even though the overall 2027 timeline may largely stand.