Another bridge is shut down: How many more to endure such closures? - Another bridge shuts down; count the numbers complying.
A series of bridges in the German state of Hesse have been closed due to imminent collapse risks, the latest being the Talbrücke at Zell in Bad König. This incident has raised concerns about the condition of bridges in Hesse and the number of structures potentially at risk.
The Odenwald region recently experienced a shutdown of both a road and a railway line running underneath, following an inspection of the Talbrücke at Zell. The Autobahn GmbH announced that further investigations revealed the bridge must be demolished. Similarly, the operator Vias prohibited trains of the Odenwald Railway from passing under the bridge due to an acute collapse risk. As a result, trains between the Groß-Umstadt hamlet of Wiebelsbach and Erbach are being replaced by buses, and vehicles and trucks must take a 20-kilometer detour, leading to inconvenience for residents and increased traffic in the area.
The question of how many bridges in Hesse are at risk of collapse remains unanswered, as responsibility for bridge maintenance in Germany is spread across several bodies. The federal government manages motorway bridges, the state of Hesse is in charge of federal, state, and county roads, and the German Railway maintains railway bridges.
The Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt) recently evaluated tables of motorway bridges in Hesse, revealing the state has the second-highest number of poorly-rated structures. There are 19 bridge structures in Hesse with condition notes of 3.3 or worse, just behind North Rhine-Westphalia's 21. The federal agency differentiates six rating ranges, with 3.5 to 4.0 being the worst, indicating an inadequate condition. Eleven motorway bridges in Hesse hold ratings of 3.5, including the Lemptal bridge near Ehringshausen and the Tal bridge Bechlingen near Aßlar.
In general, the condition of bridges along federal, state, and county roads in Hesse is considered "good," according to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport in Wiesbaden. However, it is worth noting that around 235 of the 5,400 bridge structures need to be repaired in the short to medium term, including simpler works like replacing guardrails. Additionally, there are a dozen measures to strengthen bridges with statistical problems.
The German Railway is investing heavily in maintaining its bridges, with high investments planned for the future due to a high technical renewal need. All 2,122 railway bridges in Hesse are regularly inspected, including the second-oldest railway bridge in Germany, the Nied railway bridge in Frankfurt, which was last renovated in 2008.
The Talbrücke incident is a reminder of the Salzbachtalbrücke incident in 2021 in Wiesbaden, where chunks of concrete fell from the bridge onto the federal road below. The bridge was closed, along with the roads and railway lines beneath it, effectively cutting off the city from the outside world.
While specific information on the number of bridges in Hesse at risk of collapse is not available, Germany as a whole is addressing the issue of aging infrastructure nationwide by investing in upgrades for safety and efficiency. However, the exact condition of bridges in Hesse would require consulting local government reports or infrastructure assessments.
The Community in Hesse should consider Implementing vocational training programs for bridge inspectors and engineers, given the national concern about the condition of bridges and the investment required for their maintenance. The Finance Ministry could allocate resources towards such vocational training, ensuring the expertise needed for thorough inspections and the development of effective transportation infrastructure. Additionally, the involvement of the industry sector, particularly construction companies, in these vocational training programs could facilitate the exchange of knowledge and best practices, leading to improvements in the maintenance and safety of bridges in the region.
