Traffic lights in Dresden: Bautzner Straße is finally opened after major construction!

Traffic lights in Dresden: Bautzner Straße is finally opened after major construction!

There will be significant news in Dresden in the coming days: On Friday, June 27, 2025, at 12 p.m., the traffic lights at the important intersection of Bautzner Straße/Radeberger Straße/Prießnitzstraße will be put into operation. This measure completes the fundamental road expansion, which serves to eliminate an accident hotspot. In addition, the construction of the new bridge over the Prießnitz completes an important construction project that became necessary after the old bridge was significantly damaged in the floods of 2013. With this commissioning, traffic on Bautzner Straße between Prießnitzstraße and Stolpener Straße will also be reopened.

The work on this project did not happen overnight. The first preparatory measures for construction were taken as early as April 2023, followed by replacement rail services in May 2023 and the demolition of the north side bridge, which began in September 2023. Unfortunately, the work had to be interrupted a few times due to flooding, such as in December 2023/January 2024. Traffic on the north side was reopened in September 2024 before relocation work for the media and road and track construction began in spring 2025.

Bridging flood damage

Many Dresden residents still remember the flood event of 2013 well. At the beginning of June 2013, a period of rain lasting about a week and a half led to dramatic flooding in large parts of the city. The water levels reached alarming values ​​- for example, the water level in Dresden was 6.45 meters on June 3rd (alert level 3). Thousands of volunteers and emergency services fought tirelessly against the floods, the effects of which were felt for a long time. Fortunately, some flood protection measures have since been successfully implemented to help prevent such disasters and better prepare the city for climate change.

With regard to climate change, which increases the likelihood of flood events, Theo Schmitt, expert in heavy rain risk management, advocates new approaches to architecture and infrastructure. The design of blue-green infrastructure that enables both storage and targeted drainage of water becomes essential. In order to minimize future flood damage in Dresden and other cities, not only renovations are necessary, but also new construction of dikes and retention basins.

Financing and future outlook

The total construction costs for the current project on Bautzner Straße amount to around ten million euros gross, with part of the financing coming from funds from the Free State. For the bridge structure in particular, the city is receiving 1.6 million euros in support from the “Flood Damage 2013” ​​program of the State Office for Road Construction and Transport. This support is an important step to better equip the city for future challenges.

With these advances, Dresden's infrastructure will not only be safer, but also more sustainable. In addition to restoring traffic routes, additional measures will be taken to promote cycling and improve the city's livable infrastructure. By integrating bicycle traffic facilities over the bridge and creating a new, barrier-free “Deaconess Hospital” tram stop, access will be improved for all city residents.

The people of Dresden can look to the future with optimism, because with every completed project a further step is taken towards a more sustainable city that is also better prepared against flood events.