Thursday, March 19
Cracks discovered in Ringbahn bridge, closed for “at least two years“
In normal times, the A100 bridge in Charlottenburg carries 230,000 vehicles daily. However, a crack was recently spotted in the structure, and it appears to be worsening. Two weeks ago, safety inspectors determined that the crack was spreading. Yesterday, a static test confirmed that the bridge—crucial to city transport as it spans the Ringbahn—could no longer bear its load. It was immediately closed, with replacement construction expected to take at least two years.
The closure has already caused traffic jams across the city, likely exacerbated by the ongoing BVG strike. City officials fear long-term disruptions. Oliver Schruoffeneger (Greens), District Councillor for Public Order, Environment, Roads and Green Spaces in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, told rbb that the situation was a “disaster waiting to happen” and warned that repairs could take “considerably longer” than two years.
For now, the S-Bahn running beneath the bridge remains unaffected, but future construction work may cause disruptions.
