Dresden's bridge demolition temporarily concluded for the time being
Under intense time constraints, significant parts of the now-collapsed Carola Bridge in Dresden needed to be blasted and removed before the looming high tide. By tomorrow, the swelling waters would make further work at the site impossible. Included in these efforts are deploying military equipment, specifically clearing tanks from the German military.
Before the anticipated flood, crucial demolition operations on the half-submerged Carol Bridge over the Elbe in Dresden were successfully finished. Fire department spokesperson Michael Klahre verified this information. This pertains to the part of the bridge near the Neustadt side. This means the project was completed ahead of schedule compared to initial expectations, which were set for Sunday evening. Regrettably, a portion of the bridge still resides in the Elbe. The clearance on the Elbe side was finished, said Klahre. By evening, the machinery will be relocated from the shore.
The workforce labored under high pressure to clear away debris from the shore before the impending flood danger. Bridge sections were crushed and hauled away by trucks. Two military support tanks from the German forces were also at the scene for assistance. The German forces uploaded a video to the platform X showing a tank shifting branches and debris.
The Saxon State Water Management Centre forecasts a water level of four meters on Sunday morning. At this height, no work on the shore would be possible. The area holds import during the flood because the current must navigate through the submerged part, explained Dresden Environmental Office leader René Herold.
The portion of the bridge that collapsed into the Elbe on Wednesday will remain in place for now. According to current estimates, it will not significantly impact the water level. It can only be removed once the flood has subsided, as per the head of the Streets and Infrastructure Department, Simone Prüfer. Plans for the demolition are currently being developed.
Despite the bridge segment still being in the Elbe River, efforts to clear the area around Dresden's Carola Bridge were completed ahead of schedule. The military tanks aided in this operation, assisting with debris removal as seen in the video uploaded by the German forces on X.
