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Act quickly! Concerns about Fürth Bridge: Danger of collapse!
In Fürth, concern is growing about the dilapidated Zirndorf Bridge. Experts warn of an acute risk of collapse and call for action.
Act quickly! Concerns about Fürth Bridge: Danger of collapse!
In Germany, many bridges from the 1970s are on the brink - and not just in Fürth, but across the country. The city of Fürth is particularly concerned about the Zirndorf Bridge, which is considered to be at risk due to brittle prestressing steel. This is underpinned by the tragic events surrounding the Carola Bridge in Dresden, which partially collapsed last year. The sudden collapse on September 11, 2024, which affected around 100 meters of the tram bridge, made national headlines and shows that the bridge problem is not an isolated phenomenon. The prestressing steel used is also criticized, as it can suddenly crack and can be found in many of the old bridges. [br.de].
An expert had already warned in 2014 that the Zirndorfer Bridge could be operated safely for a maximum of five to ten years. But the city of Fürth says it has a lot of catching up to do with its demolition plans. She plans to demolish it in two years at the earliest, while vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tons are currently allowed to drive on the bridge. Despite height restrictions - specifically introduced to keep out larger vehicles such as motorhomes and vans - incidents continue to occur, and in the last three months there have been 30 accidents recorded at the bridge.
Increased security concerns
After the incidents at the Carola Bridge in Dresden, where the exact cause was finally identified as stress corrosion cracking and material fatigue, fears about the Zirndorf Bridge have only grown. The expert report, which will be presented on May 28, 2025, is intended to provide information about the overall situation and develop further measures. Unfortunately, it was not possible to predict the collapse using conventional methods, which should give the affected cities pause. Since the collapse, the bridge in Dresden has been intensively monitored, including sound emission monitoring.
The city of Fürth is also criticized because, despite the safety risks that have already been identified at the Zirndorfer Bridge, a complete closure is not being considered. Over 20,000 vehicles travel this important route every day, making the decision extremely difficult for the city. One form of danger prevention could be regular checks in order to keep the risk for road users calculable. Experts agree that if control and maintenance measures are improved, the risk to bridge users can be reduced. bad-gmbh.de emphasizes that information on the maintenance of bridges also emphasizes the need to keep traffic routes safely accessible and to carry out regular stability tests.
Looking into the future
In the face of all these challenges, one asks oneself: What will happen next for our bridges? The current situation shows that cities like Fürth need to take urgent measures to ensure the safety of the bridges. It is up to us, politicians and the responsible authorities to renovate our bridges and comply with modern standards - after all, it is about the safety of all road users. The developments around the Zirndorfer Bridge are not only a local problem, but also raise questions about the maintenance strategy of the entire infrastructure. If we don't act, things could end up similar to Dresden in the future.