Aging infrastructure isn’t just a problem in the United States. A bridge collapsed into the Elbe River in Dresden, Germany on September 11. While the collapse has harmed the flow of traffic and hot water in the city, the overnight failure was hurt. no one
The section is part of the 100-meter-long Carola Bridge that crosses the Elbe River and carries a tram line and hot water lines, reports EuroNews. The bridge is one of the four crossings in the city.
Simone Pruefer, head of the city’s highways and civil engineering office, says the bridge has been inspected and tested according to guidelines, as required. “We were all very shocked” by what happened, he told reporters, “and we are now devoting a lot of attention to investigating the cause.”
Cracks in the longitudinal concrete beams near the bridge’s masonry piers on both sides of the river are evident from photos and videos, but it is unclear whether their failure is the main cause of the failure. Corrosion is also being weighed as a possible cause, according to media reports.
The part of the bridge that collapsed was scheduled for renovation and had last been rehabilitated in 1996, EuroNews reported.
Dresden’s automobile and boat traffic has been greatly disrupted. “The bridge is a lifeline for the people, culture and economy of this city,” says Dresden Mayor Dirk Hilbert. He said the city is working “full speed ahead” to protect the bridge from another collapse and clear the debris.
