Deutsche Bahn inspects bridge section in Erfurt for potential corrosion

Deutsche Bahn has begun a critical phase of bridge reconstruction at the Schmidtstedter Knoten in Erfurt, Thuringia. A massive 1,500-ton steel bridge section is being lifted from its anchors to undergo detailed inspection.

The investigation aims to identify potential corrosion damage in a specific batch of steel used during the bridge's construction in 1974. This particular steel is suspected of being prone to certain types of corrosion and has been used in other structures across East Germany, including the Carolabrücke in Dresden, which partially collapsed in September 2024.

The lifting process involves 16 presses and transport modules to move the structure approximately 50 meters to a temporary construction site, where it will be dismantled. The project has caused closures at one of Erfurt's major intersections and the temporary unavailability of two tracks at the Erfurt main station. New bridge components are scheduled for installation in early September.