Overview

• The western span of the Carolabrücke fell into the Elbe at 02:59 on September 11, 2024, and no injuries were reported.
• City officials say the bridge has been completely demolished and cleared, with formal planning for a new structure underway and discussions referencing a roughly €142 million budget.
• Traffic has shifted largely to the Albert- and Marienbrücke, adding about four minutes to north–south trips for drivers and reducing Dresden transit punctuality, with tram delays in some cases reaching up to ten minutes.
• Monitoring installed after the collapse detected cracks in prestressed concrete, and repeated discoveries of unexploded wartime ordnance during demolition forced stoppages.
• Bau- und Verkehrsbürgermeister Stephan Kühn faced heavy criticism and says he considered resigning, and his proposal to prioritize public transport on the Marienbrücke was blocked by Oberbürgermeister Dirk Hilbert.