The dilapidated A45 bridge near Lüdenscheid is blown up. Live broadcast, appointment, explosives – all information about the fall of the 17,000-ton highway structure.
Lüdenscheid – It is 453 meters long, stands on ten gigantic feet, weighs 17,000 tons – and has been completely useless since December 2, 2021: On that day, the dilapidated Rahmede viaduct was in Luedenscheid blocked without notice. Since then, the A45, one of the main traffic arteries in North Rhine-Westphalia, has been severed. On May 7, 2023, the concrete and steel colossus will be blown up – at exactly 12 noon. High noon, so to speak. We report live on Sunday in the news ticker and stream the blast.
Appointment, explosives, live broadcast: everything about blowing up the A45 bridge in Lüdenscheid
The Rahmedetalbrücke is more than just a motorway structure in need of renovation – there are quite a few of them in NRW and the rest of Germany. During the 17 months of standstill, the A45 bridge near Lüdenscheid became a symbol of the republic’s dilapidated infrastructure. An entire economic region suffers from the consequences, the permanent heavy traffic on the detour routes in Lüdenscheid makes people sick. So don’t expect much melancholy when the A45 bridge falls on the first Sunday in May. The blast is the signal to rebuild.
Blasting up the approximately 75 meter high A45 bridge is no run-of-the-mill job, even for an experienced demolition engineer like Michael Schneider. He says: “The slopes here at the Rahmede viaduct are a special challenge. We have to avoid the bridge slipping after the impact.” This is the reason why an extra high fall bed was built under the bridge. Work has been going on here for weeks and months.
Blow up the A45 bridge in Lüdenscheid: 150 kilograms of explosives
With 150 kilograms of explosives stuck in more than 2000 holes in the pillars, the structure is to be brought down with precision. There isn’t much leeway to the right or left, as a drone video of the Rahmedetalbrücke impressively illustrates shortly before the blasting. wa.de provides an overview of further facts about the blasting of the A45 viaduct in Lüdenscheid:
- The boreholes are sealed to increase the explosive effect.
- 1000 meters of detonating cord are laid.
- Wedge-shaped cutouts (“explosive mouths”) are made in the pillars in order to be able to control the direction in which the pillars buckle.
- The surrounding buildings are protected by 50 stacked sea containers. In addition, additional structures will be attached to the windows of the surrounding houses.
- Before the actual detonation at 12 noon, a so-called deterrent detonation is triggered. It is supposed to scare away animals, especially birds.
Blowing up the A45 bridge in Lüdenscheid: evacuation and closure
The area around the valley bridge will be cordoned off extensively. There are three evacuation areas immediately adjacent to the bridge. In a radius of about 100 meters around each pillar, on Sunday, May 7, from 9 a.m., there will be a ban on entry, including for the demolition expert himself.
For fear of stubborn demolition tourists, the restricted area is closely monitored. Tracking dogs and thermal imaging cameras will be used.
The important Altenaer Straße, which leads under the bridge, is already closed – and will remain so for a long time. The Autobahn GmbH calculated a period of five weeks for the removal of the bridge rubble as well as the earth and gravel masses. The full closure will only be lifted on June 10th.
Blowing up the A45 bridge in Lüdenscheid: Minister Volker Wissing comes from Berlin
The city of Lüdenscheid will broadcast the blasting on a large screen in the city center, many kilometers away from the event. wa.de will stream the blast live on May 7 – WDR will also be there and broadcast live. Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing will come to the Sauerland and follow the blasting there. NRW Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst has not announced himself. He is criticized for dealing with the bridge renovation during his time as Minister of Transport.
In the shadow of the demolition of the Rahmedetal Bridge, the runs Planning for the next big case on the A45just a few kilometers further in the direction of Dortmund: At the end of May, part of the Sterbecke viaduct was blown up.