The Partial Collapse of Dresden's Carola Bridge into the Elbe River
At 3:08 am, as reported by the fire department themselves, a situation arose. During their initial evaluation, two substantial pipes, each with a diameter of half a meter, situated at the demolition site's edge, burst. This incident resulted in a massive release of hot water, fully submerging certain parts of the terrace.
The temporary disruption of the entire warmth supply to the city of Dresden was stated by a fire department spokesperson. The primary conduit, connecting the Old Town and the New Town, was identified by Sachsen Energie, the utility provider. The Old Town was reconnected to the heating system by morning, while the New Town was anticipated to follow suit sooner or later.
The investigations into the cause of the collapse were ongoing. Holger Kalbe, head of the bridge and engineering structures department in Dresden, pointed out at an emergency press conference that a high chloride intrusion during GDR times was a strong possibility.
Previous chloride removal efforts had been carried out on the structure. However, the proximity of a public transport company's mast to the demolition site might have contributed to the significant chloride intrusion. Nonetheless, these are merely hypotheses that require validation, Kalbe emphasized.
The city had been grappling with the bridge's risk for quite some time. Hence, renovations had been undertaken for two out of the three bridge segments in recent years. The section that crumbled was earmarked for renovation in 2025. Kalbe acknowledged that the state was not as bad as anticipated.
The police implored against the spread of unverified rumors about the collapse's cause. "So far, there's no evidence of external interference," the officers stated. No investigation was underway, as per a spokesperson.
Besides vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists, two tram lines also usually traversed the bridge, even at night. The last tram crossed the bridge 18 minutes prior to its collapse, as reported by the Dresden public transport company spokesperson on Wednesday. The lines are being redirected to neighboring bridges now.
There remains an urgent risk of further portions of the bridge collapsing, the fire department spokesperson mentioned. As a result, the entire vicinity of the Carolabridge, including the Elbe, is sealed off to traffic. The Elbe cycle path and the terrace are also affected.
Furthermore, Kalbe confirmed that the fallen bridge sections now rest precariously on mere centimeters at the edge. The creation of a demolition strategy is necessary, while assessing whether the remaining intact bridge sections have sustained any damage. Since they are connected to the collapsed section by a crossbeam, they may be in danger as well.
The potential obstruction of salvage operations by high water was also raised. The German Weather Service warned of an impending severe weather front moving in from the east, as mentioned by the fire department spokesperson. This might impact the Elbe's water levels. As of now, no specific measures are necessary, the spokesperson noted, but the fire department stands ready.
The approximately 30-meter-wide Carolabridge, named after Carola of Wasa-Holstein-Gottorp, the wife of the Saxon King Albert, was completed in 1971. Prior to its completion, it facilitated a four-lane federal highway 170, separated tram tracks, and pedestrian and cycling paths. The bridge is sustained by a pillar in the river.
The burst pipes were located near the edge of the demolition site, which is alongside a busy ['Railway'] line. To prevent any potential accidents, train services in the area were temporarily suspended.
Upon examining the bridge's structure, it was discovered that the burden of the ['Railway'] tracks might have exacerbated the chloride intrusion, contributing to its deterioration.
