Young Union demands: Quick construction of the Carola Bridge in Dresden!

Young Union demands: Quick construction of the Carola Bridge in Dresden!

The Carola Bridge in Dresden is the focus of political and economic discussions. After the tragic partial collapse on September 11, 2024, the bridge is not only closed, but also has far-reaching consequences for traffic and the local economy. The Junge Union Dresden is now calling for the bridge to be rebuilt quickly, as diesachsen.de reports. The unanimous motion that was passed at the CDU district party conference last week is a clear sign: things have to happen quickly now!

The Junge Union expects the CDU parliamentary group to support this decision in the Dresden city council. The collapsed Carola Bridge not only symbolizes an investment backlog, but also the dilapidated infrastructure in Germany, which is putting a strain on numerous cities. JU district chairman Bruno Felgentreu sums it up: “Dresden, as the state capital, has a responsibility.”

Traffic and the economy demand quick action

The situation for the Dresden population is dramatic. Constant traffic jams and detours characterize city traffic. The bridge represented an important Elbe crossing and offered space for around 30,000 vehicle passages per day. Since its lockdown, the commercial economy has suffered from significant detours, higher costs and disrupted supply chains. An open letter from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Chamber of Crafts to the city administration and the city council therefore calls for this central transport connection to be quickly restored [hwk-dresden.de].

The core demands are clearly defined: the remains of the old bridge should be removed immediately, lengthy discussions about the design should be avoided and a replacement building should be built on the same site. It is important to cover transport needs and at the same time rely on clear cost and time planning.

The path to the new building

In order to achieve the desired progress, the planning process must be accelerated so that the replacement building can begin in the second quarter of 2026 at the latest. Here too, the need for a common solution between the city, the Free State of Saxony and the federal government is pointed out. Dr. Andreas Sperl from the IHK Dresden emphasizes that the current traffic situation not only affects mobility, but also the quality of life in the city.

The plans for the new building provide for four lanes, two tram routes and separate cycle and pedestrian paths. In addition, the new building should fit harmoniously into the historic cityscape. A legal report already proves the legal feasibility of a replacement building with a historical appearance. The Junge Union relies on a pragmatic implementation that takes the city skyline into account and offers citizens a functional bridge.

A challenge for the infrastructure

In a larger context, the Carola Bridge is an example of the ongoing underfunding of infrastructure in Germany. The pressure to transform towards a climate-neutral economy and the security policy challenges require massive investments. At the federal level, there is a need for a central organizational unit that should guarantee sustainable professionalization and transparency in the management of public infrastructure projects, as pwc.de describes. The case of the Carola Bridge could therefore be an opportunity to make progress not only locally, but also at the national level.

The next steps are crucial. The people of Dresden and the local economy expect clear signals and quick solutions to cross the Elbe safely and efficiently again. Time is running out – and expectations are high.