Accelerated Demolition of Dresden's Carolabridge: Taking Down the Collapsed Bridge Sections Faster Than Ever
Accelerated Finish of Carolabridge Ahead of Original Schedule - Imminent Early Demolition of Carolabridge Planned
Folks, the remnants of the busted section on Dresden's Carolabridge are coming down faster than expected! The White Fleet Saxon GmbH has no plans to pass under the Elbe crossing during their fleet parade on Thursday, as city hall announced. This means the scheduled interruption of the demolition work on section C on Wednesday and Thursday is no longer needed.
What's more, the noise emission monitoring, which has been keepin' an eye on the structural health of the bridge since the collapse, hasn't detected any critical vibrations in the other two visually intact bridge sections.
Since Wednesday morning, they've been chuckin' bags weighin' between 38 to 50 tons each, demolishing the hangin' middle parts of the busted bridge section on the ground. These bags are seated on a pillar with the superstructures of sections A and B, so they gotta be dealt with evenly.
Next week, they'll start removin' the cantilever arm and deck of the hollow box from both sides, followed by the walkways and floor plates. The debris will be crushed, and the material will be put back to use later. On the other bridge sections, handrails or tram overhead line masts will be taken down and secured. At the same time, they're buildin' auxiliary structures using well rings as supports for the land-crossin' bridge parts.
The western traffic lane of the Elbe crossing took a dive unexpectedly on about 100 meters of its length in the night of September 10 to 11, 2024. Since then, the bridge, which originated during the GDR times, has been off limits - and is on the brink of collapsin' due to further breaks in the prestressed steel construction. The stability of its remnants and debris is under constant watch, and navigation is restricted. The city council is due to decide on a replacement for the Carolabridge before the summer, and they favor a quick and up-to-date restoration of the Elbe crossing.
Fun fact: The demolition process is all about safety and efficiency. They're breakin' the bridge down in modules instead of piece by piece, thanks to Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs), which are gonna lift the bridge sections onto pontoons for transport away from the site. And the best part is, they aim to recycle as much of the debris as possible! So keep an eye out for updates on this fascinating project!
Insights:- The demolition of the Carolabridge is actively proceeding, with preparations like erecting auxiliary steel supports, reinforcing bridge arms, and setting up additional support structures underway.- The bridge's removal strategy emphasizes modular breakdown and transportation, to minimize risks and speed up the process.- While specific reuse plans for the debris haven't been disclosed yet, it's common for modern demolition projects in Germany to recycle substantial portions of construction materials, with steel and concrete components being salvaged for reuse.- The reinforced supports, bridge segmentation, and SPMT operations are aimed at facilitating the eventual removal and transportation of debris, paving the way for the Carolabridge's reconstruction.
Note: This information is based on publicly available data, but specific details about the Carolabridge's debris reuse strategies aren't yet disclosed. The reuse plans may follow common recycling practices in Germany.
Sources: [1], [3], [4]
Disclaimer: This rewrite uses general information and creative license to maintain an informal tone while highlighting the topic; it does not reflect concrete facts or decisions by the authorities.
Despite the accelerated demolition of Dresden's Carolabridge, the city'sWhite Fleet, scheduled for a fleet parade on Thursday, will not pass under the Elbe crossing. Meanwhile, the industry of recycling and finance sectors might find opportunities in the demolition process, as the aim is to recycle as much of the debris as possible. The transportation of the recovered materials could potentially support the growth of these sectors.
