Renovation of the tarpaulin bridge: construction site ensures diversions and progress!

Renovation of the tarpaulin bridge: construction site ensures diversions and progress!

The tarpaulin bridge in Brandenburg an der Havel is currently a hotly debated topic among residents. The bridge has been closed for three weeks and construction work is in full swing. The renovation, which began on July 24, 2025, is necessary after the bridge, which has never been renovated since it was built in 1983, is dilapidated. In the first two weeks of the summer holidays, the bridge superstructure was dismantled and the Ziesarer Landstrasse was completely closed until the end of September. The diversions for cyclists, pedestrians and motorized traffic are now well established rbb24 reports.

BRAWAG's sewer line was secured using sheet piling while the riverbed of the tarpaulin was worked on in the third week of construction. After the removal, the river bed was dredged to a depth of 70 cm and provided with a 50 cm thick substructure. In the coming days, a crane will lift a 15-meter-long water culvert made of hot-dip galvanized corrugated steel, as described on the city's official website ( stadt-brandenburg.de ). After the previous construction has been lifted, compaction will follow and a little later, probably a week later, the second water passage will be put into position.

Mayor and experts at the construction site

During a visit to the construction site, Mayor Steffen Scheller as well as the city councilor Walter Paaschen and treasurer Thomas Barz explained the progress of the work. Scheller emphasized the importance of completing the bridge before the start of the new school year on September 8 to make traffic safe and efficient. The current flow of traffic is perceived as positive, with traffic jams mainly caused by railway barriers.

The planned completion of the road construction is announced for September 2025. According to those responsible, the new crossing over the tarpaulin will bring a number of advantages: the load restrictions will be lifted, the curve radius will be defused and more space and safety will be created for cyclists and pedestrians.

A look into the future

The challenges regarding dilapidated bridges are not only an issue in Brandenburg. The collapse of the Carola Bridge in Dresden in September 2024 had a nationwide impact on the inspection of prestressed concrete structures. Experts assume that a major wave of renovations is imminent, which could also affect bridges in Berlin tagesschau.de reported.

The need for frequent inspections and repairs is becoming increasingly important as bridges are subjected to greater strain due to high traffic loads, especially from trucks. The maintenance backlog that has arisen over many years leads to an increasing risk to the safety of road users.