Aachen’s unsafe bridge demolished after severe structural flaws discovered
A bridge along Horbacher Straße in Aachen-Richterich is now being torn down after engineers found serious structural problems. The demolition began late on Tuesday night, following months of planning by Straßen.NRW, the state agency responsible for road and bridge maintenance. The structure had already been closed to traffic since mid-last year due to safety concerns.
The decision to demolish rather than repair the bridge came after a routine inspection revealed severe deterioration. Straßen.NRW determined that a full renovation would cost more than constructing a new bridge entirely. The old structure, which spans a railway line between Aachen and Mönchengladbach, will not disrupt train services during its removal.
Residents living nearby were warned about high noise levels during the work. Initially, 81 households accepted an offer to relocate temporarily to hotels for up to two weeks. However, after demolition started, more complaints about excessive noise led to additional compensation being provided. The project is expected to generate around 5,000 tons of steel and concrete waste, all of which will be recycled for future construction. If the nighttime operations proceed without delays, the work could finish ahead of schedule.
The demolition marks the end of a bridge deemed unsafe for use over a year ago. With recycling plans in place for the materials, the next step will be constructing a replacement structure. Authorities have assured residents that noise concerns are being addressed as the work continues.
