In the early hours of 11 September 2024, a section of Dresden’s Carola Bridge collapsed into the Elbe – precisely the section used by the tram. One of the four Elbe crossings for the tram is therefore interrupted, and due to the damage, certainly for a long time. Fortunately, the incident miraculously did not result in any personal injury.
Regarding the effects on tram traffic in the Dresden city area, the city administration and transport company have stated in press releases that the last tram passed the Carola Bridge at 2.50 a.m., just a few minutes before the accident. Since around 3.30 a.m., the lines that normally cross the bridge have been diverted. Line 3 now runs via Postplatz, Augustusbrücke and Anton-/Leipziger Straße and line 7 via Postplatz, Ostra-Allee, Marienbrücke and Neustadt station. Line 8 also runs via Neustadt station. As soon as the overhead line at Carolaplatz and on the Altstädter side, near the synagogue, has been secured, the section via Albertstraße will be used again.
Line 8 will then return to its normal route and lines 3 and 7 will take a diversion via Hauptbahnhof – Prager Straße – Postplatz – Augustusbrücke – Neustädter Markt – Carolaplatz.
The route between Carolaplatz and Pirnaischer Platz will remain interrupted for some time, as the reconstruction of the destroyed bridges can only be tackled after extensive safety work and clarification of the causes and will certainly take at least two years or longer.
