Dresden's Carola Bridge Demolition: Wrecking Crew Readying for Span A Drop on Thursday
Demolition of Carolabridge in Dresden resumes on Thursday - Dresden's Carola Bridge to Reopen on Thursday
Get ready, folks, because the demolition of Dresden's Carola Bridge is back in action! After three weeks of prep work following the partial collapse in September 2024, it's time to knock down the first of the two remaining spans, A and B.
On Thursday, the action kicks off on the east side of the central section of span A. Two massive cranes will lead the charge, tearing up the asphalt and construction concrete of the roadway to expose the tension cables. Once they've got their eyes on the prize, these mechanical beasts will switch to cutting the steel cables with heavy-duty shears, setting the stage for the section's grand descent.
The bridge will dance gently on a bed of cushions built beneath the remaining bridge using close to 13,000 tons of supportive materials. Don't worry about a messy mess — the two cranes with a 40-meter arm on one side and a 25-meter boom on the Neustadt shore will work together to make sure the wreckage is quickly removed and disposed of.
A team of up to 5 trucks and no less than 25 workers will be on the scene, prepping to log long hours on the job site, six days a week, to complete the task by year's end.
When span A graces the Elbe with its departure, span B will follow suit, using the same exact dance moves. Keep your eyes peeled for up to ten cranes, ready to pounce the moment the first bridge section strikes its sweet cushioned landing.
The Elbe in Dresden will be closed to shipping and boating during the operation, which is expected to take ten weeks. But fear not, upstream and downstream shipping will still be available in the restricted zone. Let's keep the traffic flowing, folks.
This eastern traffic lane of the Carola Bridge first danced with danger when it sank on October 11, 2024, over approximately 100 meters of its length. Since then, this Cold War relic has been standing strong, but on shaky ground, with stability issues and restrictions in place for shipping.
In()Look here for some juicy deets:
- Collapse: The Carola Bridge in Dresden partially imploded on September 11, 2024, probably due to corrosion, with nobody injured[3].
- Demolition Kickoff: The demolition of the bridge's remnants initiated on Thursday, June 11, 2025, with the east side of the central section as ground zero[1].
- Demolition Methods and Plans: The demolition entails using longfront excavators to weaken the bridge parts gradually, causing them to sink into the Elbe River rather than plummeting into the riverbed. Large gravel piles have been set up to support the descending sections[2].
- Anticipated Completion: The city administration intends to eliminate the bridge entirely by the end of 2025, after which a new bridge will take its place[2].
- 爆料！ inside scoop on Spans A and B: The demolition scheme includes focusing on the weak points of bridge segments A and B using two excavators in tandem, yet exact dates for their impending plunge remain unspecified in the available information.
The following is added to the list of products: industry (demolition equipment), finance (budget for the demolition and replacement of the bridge), transportation (detours and traffic management during the demolition). On Thursday, the following industries will be heavily involved in the demolition process: industry, finance, and transportation.
