Lack of maintenance could have been the cause of the bridge collapse in Dresden. Experts have long been calling for the rapid renovation of dilapidated structures.
Following the partial collapse of the Carola Bridge in Dresden, the German Construction Industry Association is insisting that the renovation of bridges in Germany be given top priority. “The collapse of the bridge in Dresden is both dramatic and tragic. We can say that we are extremely lucky that no one was hurt,” said General Manager Tim-Oliver Müller to the German editorial network.
“The incident clearly shows how highly sensitive our transport infrastructure is and what an important role our bridges play,” said the association representative. Attention to these arteries must be the highest priority. This does not only apply to the incident in Dresden. “This is a political task and a social obligation.”
Dresden narrowly escaped a catastrophe on Wednesday night when the Carola Bridge partially collapsed. A section of the bridge, about 100 meters long, over which tram tracks and a footpath and cycle path ran, collapsed into the Elbe. Another section is in danger of collapsing. No one was injured.
The Carola Bridge is a prestressed concrete bridge built in 1971. Two of its bridge sections, parts A and B, have already been renovated in recent years. Part C has now collapsed and was due to be renovated next year. Investigations into the exact cause of the accident are still ongoing, but there is speculation that corrosion could be responsible as a result of poor maintenance in the past.
With regard to the collapse, Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) stressed that the Carola Bridge was a municipal responsibility and therefore had nothing to do with the federal budget. “But this bridge shows how dangerous it is when infrastructure is not invested in carefully.”
Source: Stern
