Following the shutdown of the highway bridge in Berlin: Single lane remains operational, yet it's not accessible for trucks. - Following the shutdown of the Berlin motorway bridge: One lane remains passable; however, it's forbidden for trucks to use it.
The federally-owned transportation agency kicked off a surprise shutdown of the busy A100 ring road bridge last week, citing a looming collapse. Tests and expert opinions confirmed the bridge's unsafety for traffic, with temporary fixes or partial closures failing to ensure its stability. The bridge was ordered to be razed and rebuilt.
The commuter chaos ensued, with traffic bottlenecks plaguing the city last week and over the weekend. The federal agency recommended commuters avoid the area and opt for public transit if feasible.
Starting Monday, at least automobiles have been able to drive north on one lane, opposing regular traffic flow. Southbound vehicles can still utilize two lanes. The new traffic arrangements faced delays in the morning, with the initial plan for opening at 6 am delayed till approximately 9 am.
According to Berlin's senior transportation official, Ute Bonde (CDU), the makeshift lane is anticipated to remain in place for "several months" until the new bridge is constructed. On Monday, Bonde shared that a revised plan would be presented on Wednesday. "We're pulling out all the stops," Bonde said, revealing the urgency of the situation. Despite reported preparation for an emergency bypass plan, no such concept had been officially readied. Bonde was taken aback by the unusual behavior of the crack.
The new bridge is expeditiously under construction, but Bonde hinted at potential bonuses for a speedy completion in the "rbb." A precise timeline for the completion, however, remains elusive.
As per the federal agency, temporary nighttime full closures for northbound traffic and restrictions for southbound traffic will occur in the upcoming days, with advance notification provided.
- Highway bridge
- Berlin
- Federal Highway Company
- Shutdown
- Lane
- Ute Bonde
- Vehicle
- CDU
- RBB
- Weekend
[1] Initial report of the A100 bridge closure, highlighting concerns about its safety due to a widening crack in its supporting structure.
[2] Update on the current planning approval procedure for the new highway bridge in Berlin.
[3] Speculation on the rebuilding duration of the closed highway bridge in Berlin, predicting at least two years, although the exact duration remains uncertain.
[1] In light of the widening crack in its supporting structure, the Commission has initiated the procedure provided for in Article 93 (2) of the Treaty for the granting of aid, focusing on the construction of a new road in the area of the railway network (A100 highway bridge) in Berlin.
[2] Ute Bonde, the senior transportation official from Berlin's CDU party, has announced that the makeshift lane setup on the A100 highway will be in place for several months while a new bridge is constructed.
[3] Despite the expedited construction efforts of the new highway bridge in Berlin, there are speculations that it could take at least two years for the bridge to be rebuilt, though a precise timeline remains uncertain.
