- Specialist on Carola Bridge failure labels incident as "catastrophic"
Bridge Engineer Steffen Marx Labels Dresden's Caroline Bridge Collapse as Catastrophic. He's a Prof at TU Dresden's Structural Engineering Institute and stated, "This is a catastrophe because none of us saw it coming." He added, "As of now, the bridge's entire structure should be regarded as unstable and at risk of collapse."
The Caroline Bridge, being one of the first significant prestressed concrete bridges in the GDR, was burdened with its structural flaws from the start. "What makes this situation particularly heartbreaking is that the bridge lacks any backup systems," Marx expressed. "Should something go wrong, collapse is inevitable."
An initial theory suggests that corrosion played a significant part in causing the collapse.
It will take some time before it is safe to pass beneath the bridge once more. Presently, the focus is on restoring a safe traffic flow. "Our aim is to stabilize the remaining portion of the bridge, which has taken considerable damage, by installing temporary supports," Marx commented.
After securing the surviving part, their aim is to get rid of the remaining debris from the waterway as soon as possible, taking into account potential flooding. "This is essential to restore the Elbe's cross-section and prevent another catastrophe caused by this one," Marx concluded.
The Caroline Bridge, built during the period of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), has faced structural challenges since its inception.Citing the lack of backup systems and the extensive damage caused by the collapse, Marx emphasized the importance of treating the remaining portion of the bridge in the GDR as unstable and at risk of collapse.
