According to the Autobahn GmbH, the work to secure the southern bridge component of the Salzbachtal Bridge, which is in danger of collapsing, is making good progress.

As part of the emergency stabilization, concrete work was carried out on a pillar and the abutment of the bridge in the second week of July.

This is to ensure that the bridge superstructure cannot slip again.

In addition, this week, with the help of a remote-controlled special vehicle, the steel auxiliary supports were pushed under to the left and right of the heavily damaged pillar.

Oliver Bock

Correspondent for the Rhein-Main-Zeitung for the Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis and for Wiesbaden.

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However, the arranged safety zone of 50 meters around the bridge still exists.

The Autobahn GmbH expects the clearance at the end of July after the necessary tests on the south bridge have been completed.

Only then can the demolition be prepared.

And only then can work on securing the infrastructure in the vicinity of the building begin.

According to Matthias Achauer from the construction management of Autobahn GmbH, not only the main road, the railway system and the sewage treatment plant have to be secured.

It is also important to protect various pipes, including a large sewer pipe.

That must be specially secured in order to prevent environmental damage.

Thick layer of sand

In addition, the Salzbach must be able to continue flowing, which is why it is laid in large steel pipes. A thick layer of sand is also poured onto the rails so that rail traffic can be resumed quickly after the bridge has been blasted and the rubble and debris has been cleared away. The west branch of Autobahn GmbH has now estimated a period of around six to eight weeks for construction workers and explosives experts to carry out the security work. According to this, an explosion is to be expected in September at the earliest, but more likely in October.

There is now a new answer to the question, which is often discussed in social networks, of what happens to the truck standing on the south bridge and whether it will actually fall into the depths with the blast. According to Autobahn GmbH, the brand-new special vehicle, a so-called under-bridge viewing device, is to be “recovered if possible, provided that the occupational health and safety conditions permit”.