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Bridge crash in Klosterneuburg: Four crossings lost due to flooding!
In Klosterneuburg, four bridges will be removed after flood damage in 2024. Dismantling will begin soon, alternatives are available.
Bridge crash in Klosterneuburg: Four crossings lost due to flooding!
In Klosterneuburg, a town in Lower Austria, four bridges will be demolished without replacement due to massive flood damage that occurred in September 2024. This decision, which was made by the municipality, affects the Maitalsteg I and II, the Lackfabrikbrücke and the Promenade footbridge. After a comprehensive damage assessment, it was determined that none of the bridges were designed to withstand a 100-year flood without damage, resulting in their permanent closure. The bridges had already been closed after the flood and are now permanently unusable oe24 reported.
The damage to the bridges is significant. The Maitalsteg, which was built in 1945, has eroded foundations and dangerously damaged railings and is hardly used by the public anymore. The paint factory bridge, which was built in 1943, has cracks in the abutments and a damaged wooden deck, which meant that the load capacity had to be reduced from 4.5 to 2.5 tons. On the Promenade jetty, which was only renovated in 2020, frost heaves, cracks, rust and massive erosion can be observed throughout the entire structure. Given the narrow traffic areas and unfavorable terrain, new buildings are not technically feasible in these locations.
Alternatives and dismantling
However, the city offers alternatives for pedestrians, as the Lessinggassen Bridge and the Göthegassen Bridge are in the immediate vicinity, which are only 70 and 110 meters away, respectively. The dismantling of the damaged bridges should begin in the coming weeks in order not to further endanger transport connections noen.at.
The serious state of the infrastructure in Klosterneuburg is part of a larger problem: the floods that hit Austria in mid-September 2024 caused an estimated damage of 1.3 billion euros. This estimate includes direct and indirect damage, including the impact on private households and businesses, such as Small newspaper reported. Of the losses, private households accounted for 700 million euros, while companies are faced with costs of around 600 million euros on average due to production downtimes and damaged inventory.
The need to rethink flood protection measures and future infrastructure projects is becoming increasingly urgent. Experts warn of an increase in extreme weather events due to climate change, requiring continued efforts to improve infrastructure and protect the population.