Bridge between Gadewitz and Redemitz: demolition and new construction are imminent!

Bridge between Gadewitz and Redemitz: demolition and new construction are imminent!

There will soon be changes in Großweitzschen: the bridge on the district road between Gadewitz and Redemitz will be demolished and replaced by a new building. According to a statement from the Central Saxony District Office, the bridge has been closed for more than two years because it is in very poor structural condition. Emergency repairs and traffic restrictions initially made it possible to use it until it was closed in May 2023. Citizens have also recognized the need to close the bridge and have started a petition to point out the consequences of the closure. However, there is positive news: pedestrians are allowed to use the bridge again for the time being.

The plans for the new construction of the bridge have already been awarded to an engineering firm from Dresden. This will take over the object and specialist planning for the structural planning. The total costs for the project are estimated at around 5 million euros, with Deutsche Bahn covering 50% of the planned construction costs. Financial support from the Saxon State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labor and Transport is also sought. However, the restoration of the listed building cannot be realized - demolition and new construction are essential to meet traffic requirements and ensure the safety of passage.

New construction and planning

The replacement building is a high priority for those responsible, with a planned construction time frame until the end of 2026/2027. Two variants are being discussed during planning: The new building could be built at the same location or parallel to the existing bridge. A preferred variant has already been identified, which envisages construction parallel to the existing bridge. This decision is intended to help optimize traffic flows and keep disruption to a minimum during the construction period.

The bridge, which is a listed building and registered in the monument register of the Free State of Saxony, was built between 1875 and 1907 as a quarry stone bridge with corner supports made of sandstone. The monument protection authority has approved the demolition, which allows further planning to gain momentum. Germany has a total of around 40,300 bridges, most of which were built between 1960 and 1985. Current challenges, such as the increase in heavy traffic, make the modernization and maintenance of this important transport infrastructure essential.

A comprehensive bridge modernization strategy was put in place to adapt the existing bridges to the increased requirements. This includes the upgrading of heavily used routes in the federal motorway network, which are intended to increase both their load-bearing capacity and traffic safety. With an emphasis on structural preservation, the aim is to secure the infrastructure for the coming years and to ensure smooth traffic operations. Information on the planned measures can be found in detail on the website of the Federal Ministry of Transport.

The developments in Großweitzschen are another sign of how important it is to invest in the infrastructure and adapt it to modern traffic requirements. It remains to be seen how construction will progress and what impact the new building will have on local residents.