Particle.news

Download on the App Store

One Year After Dresden’s Carolabrücke Collapse, Demolition Is Complete as City Plans a Replacement

City leaders face scrutiny over unresolved choices on design, funding and schedule.

Overview

  • The bridge partially collapsed on September 11, 2024 at 2:59 a.m., and no injuries were reported.
  • Demolition of the damaged spans has concluded after a year of complex work that included multiple wartime ordnance finds.
  • Investigators say the cause of the failure has been identified, and the city has begun preparing plans for a new bridge.
  • Key decisions remain open, including the final design, lane configuration, a projected cost around €142 million and the timeline for completion.
  • Traffic has slowed across the city with flows shifting to Albert- and Marienbrücke, average car trips taking about four minutes longer, tram punctuality declining and cycling detours persisting as the Terrassenufer remains closed.