Neustadt in upheaval: Carola Bridge is being torn down – shipping is in danger!

Neustadt in upheaval: Carola Bridge is being torn down – shipping is in danger!

On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, demolition work on pillar D of the Carola Bridge began in Dresden. This is an important step because pillar D is the last large part of the bridge on the Neustadt side. This work should be completed by the beginning of the 31st calendar week, so that the city can soon make further progress in building a new bridge, as dresden.de reports.

After the demolition, the rubble is broken up and transported away while the fall bed on the Old Town side is cleared. The focus is on the clean-up and repair measures of the traffic areas on both sides of the Elbe. Restoring the shipping channel is particularly important. The condition of the river bed must be precisely recorded after the Carola Bridge has been dismantled in order to detect any obstacles and clear shipping routes.

How is the Elbe changing?

Unfortunately, the condition of the Elbe bed changed significantly due to the partial collapse of the Carola Bridge on September 11, 2024. In some places the Elbe is now deeper, in others the bed is higher. The reason given is the narrowing of the cross section through the construction road and the changed flow speed. In order to get to the bottom of the condition of the river bed, area surveys were carried out in the area from the Carola Bridge to the Augustus Bridge on Monday, July 21, 2025. Modern echo sounder technologies were used to create an accurate image of the riverbed. This measurement was carried out by the Ingenieurgesellschaft Falasch mbH on behalf of the Dresden Road and Civil Engineering Authority.

The results of the soundings show deep scour under the current of bridge C and landfalls on the Neustadt side, which must now be included in the renovation plan. The Elbe Waterways and Shipping Authority has set specific requirements for the opening of the fairway, with the aim of opening it again in August.

Repair measures are being planned

The repair work on the Elbe bottom is expected to last three weeks, although the exact duration depends heavily on the current water level. However, the work is already being planned with the dredger “DOMARIN 10”, which has to come from Riesa to Dresden. A water level of around one meter is required for the machines to work effectively.

After the demolition of the Carola Bridge is completed, the terrace bank will also be cleared and made traffic-safe again. Initial assessments show that damage was found in particular to the asphalt surface and the footpaths. The measures to restore the terrace bank are organized in close coordination with the utility companies and the transport authority. The condition of the Elbe cycle path will also be closely examined in order to determine further necessary measures.

The road to the complete restoration of the bridge and the adjacent bank areas is still long, but the city's medium-term goal is to get shipping on the Elbe up and running again as quickly as possible so that Dresden residents can experience smooth traffic on the water again.