Bridge dismantling in Senftenberg: THW is testing innovative safety solutions!

Bridge dismantling in Senftenberg: THW is testing innovative safety solutions!

In Senftenberg, the focus is on the old bridge over the Black Elster, because the controlled dismantling of the dilapidated structure took place on October 29, 2025. The Brandenburg State Road Agency (LS) and the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) are working together on this exciting project, which not only combines engineering technology, but also disaster control and research. An array of experts, including Dr. Ina Bartmann, State Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure and State Planning, and Mike Koehler, Chairman of the LS, were on site to observe what was happening.

The bridge, which was built in the 1980s, has significant damage, particularly due to stress corrosion cracking, which led to the payload being limited to 40 tons as early as 2023. Since then, a temporary bridge has ensured traffic flow. The new structure, a modern single-span frame structure, has been under construction since July 2025 and is scheduled to be completed by October 2026.

Innovative dismantling under real conditions

During this dismantling, sophisticated techniques such as laser scanners, drones and an electronic monitoring system are used to closely observe the material behavior. Research here is carried out consistently at the interface between theory and practice, highlighted by the AISTEC-PRO project funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, which deals intensively with the safety assessment of infrastructure structures.

A special feature of this project is the exercise that the THW is conducting from October 27th to 30th. The aim is to test methods for evaluating infrastructure structures in the event of a disaster. One of the bridge halves is used as a test area to create targeted cracks and deformations under controlled conditions. Around 40 THW members, including specially trained drone pilots and construction consultants, are actively involved in this exercise.

A role model for interdisciplinary collaboration

This important project is a prime example of successful interdisciplinary collaboration between road construction, research and disaster control. The results will be incorporated into the exchange of knowledge on infrastructure and civil protection not only locally, but also across Germany - a real benefit for the safety and reliability of our transport infrastructure.

For further information about the project and the ongoing exercise, those interested can visit Niederlausitz Aktuell. att.yahoo.com and restaurantji.com also offer additional exciting aspects on related topics.