The motorway bridge has been closed since December 2021. At that time, immense damage was discovered during a bridge inspection. The A45-Bridge has been considered in danger of collapsing ever since.
Closing the bridge is a stress test for Lüdenscheid and the region. Around 20,000 additional vehicles roll through the city every day. The traffic chaos burdens the local residents. They complain about noise and exhaust fumes. Businesses are struggling with revenue slumps and labor migration.
Demolition of the Rahmedetal Bridge on May 7th
Therefore, the demolition of the old bridge and the construction of a new bridge is a top priority for the region. At least for the demolition there is now a concrete date. Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) announced today (02/28/2023) that the Rahmedetal Bridge is to be blown up on May 7th.
The date of the bridge blast had been long awaited. It was originally planned for December 2022. However, because the pillars of the 70-meter-high Rahmedetal Bridge were built differently than shown in the blueprints, there were delays.