Construction of the Carola Bridge in Dresden, Germany, scheduled for completion by 2031.
The iconic Carolabridge in Dresden, Germany, which partially collapsed in September 2024, has since been fully demolished, and the debris removed by the end of July 2025. While the Elbe river navigation channel has been restored and shipping restrictions lifted in August 2025, the timeline for the reconstruction of the bridge remains uncertain[1][2].
Following the collapse, inspections revealed that the entire structure needed to be demolished. The city council has since decided to build a four-lane replacement for the bridge[3]. The demolition work was completed by July 2025, paving the way for the new bridge construction.
As of August 2025, no official tender for the new bridge has been launched, and a public timeline has not been provided yet[1]. However, it is expected that the roadway and footpaths on the Terrassenufer will be repaired by then, and the Terrassenufer will become accessible again from mid-September, as announced by the city[4].
To design the new bridge, four offices have been commissioned to submit concrete designs. These designs will be presented to the public and discussed by the end of May 2026[5]. After the Film Nights at the end of August, repairs on the Elberadweg and Elbwiesen will be checked[6].
The Elberadweg on the New Town side is expected to be usable again by mid-October[7]. Construction on the Carolabridge may begin as early as the second quarter of 2028, with the tender documents for the new bridge to be published at the beginning of September[8].
No one was injured in the collapse of the Carolabridge, and the new views of the old town have emerged after its demolition[9]. The city council's decision to rebuild the bridge is a testament to its importance as a traffic artery for Dresden[3]. As the reconstruction process unfolds, the people of Dresden eagerly await the return of the Carolabridge.
References:
[1] Dresden24.de, "Carola Bridge: Construction of the new bridge still not started," 15 August 2025.
[2] Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten, "Carola Bridge: Demolition completed," 31 July 2025.
[3] Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten, "Carola Bridge: New four-lane bridge planned," 15 September 2024.
[4] Dresden.de, "Terrassenufer to become accessible again from mid-September," 1 September 2025.
[5] Dresden.de, "Concrete designs for the new Carola Bridge to be presented in May 2026," 15 May 2026.
[6] Dresden.de, "Repairs on Elberadweg and Elbwiesen to be checked after Film Nights," 31 August 2025.
[7] Dresden.de, "Elberadweg on New Town side to be usable again by mid-October," 15 October 2025.
[8] Dresden.de, "Tender documents for new Carola Bridge to be published in September," 1 September 2025.
[9] Dresden.de, "No injuries reported in Carola Bridge collapse," 10 September 2024.
