Bridges on Incomplete Motorway Projects Not Found in Saxony - No highway bridges in Saxony deemed unfit for use
Saxony's Highway Bridges Remain in Adequate Condition, According to Analysis
After an evaluation by the Federal Association for the Maintenance of Concrete Structures, it has been confirmed that none of the 155 highway bridges in Saxony with a length of at least 50 meters are in poor condition. According to the assessment, all these bridges have a condition rating of at least 2.9, indicating an adequate condition.
The Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt) provided the latest data for the analysis. The association classifies bridge conditions based on signs of wear and acute damage into six rating ranges. A significant majority of the bridges in Saxony fall into the range of 2.0 to 2.4, signifying a satisfactory condition. 19 bridges were rated as good, and 5 as very good, accounting for 15.5 percent of the total. No Saxon bridge was found to be in the worst condition categories of 3.0 to 3.4 (not adequate) or 3.5 to 4.0 (insufficient).
Compare to the national average, Saxony performs well. Around 10 percent of the nearly 3,800 evaluated bridges nationwide were rated as not adequate or insufficient. The majority of bridges with condition ratings of 3.3 or lower can be found in North Rhine-Westphalia (21) and Hesse (19).
While the federal government is responsible for highway bridges, Saxony manages bridges on federal and state roads. According to the State Office for Road Construction and Traffic, around 90 percent of the 2,514 structures in Saxony are in very good to adequate condition. However, 77 bridges on federal roads and 174 on state roads have a condition rating of 3.0 or worse.
Following the partial collapse of Dresden's Carol Bridge, Saxony is conducting independent inspections on 19 structures built with Hennigsdorf prestressing steel, a type of steel that may be susceptible to stress corrosion cracking. The local authorities have taken measures such as the long-term closure of the Elbe Bridge on the B172 in Bad Schandau, which reopened for traffic up to 7.5 tons in April, and the demolition of the railway bridge on the B101 near Großenhain last December. Further details about ongoing inspections and their connection to the Dresden Carol Bridge incident are not available.
Saxony's infrastructure projects are ongoing, with the completion of sections of B178 underway[1]. It is important to note that while there are no reports of Saxon bridges in poor condition, regular inspections and maintenance activities are indispensable for ensuring infrastructure integrity and functionality.
[1] bml-v.de/mobilitaet-verkehr/landeseinrichtungen-sachsen/fernstraßen/straßenbauverwaltung-sachsen/bauprojekte.html
- The employment policy of Saxony should prioritize the regular inspections and maintenance activities of its highway bridges, considering the critical role they play in the transportation industry, and their impact on finance due to potential damages.
- In the context of Saxony's community policy, it would be beneficial to collaborate with the industry and finance sectors to ensure adequate funds are allocated for the upkeep of highway bridges, as part of a comprehensive employment policy focused on infrastructure maintenance.
