The demolition of the A100 bridge in western Berlin began this morning, April 12, 2025, albeit with a one-day delay. The process kicked off at 8:24 AM, as confirmed by Ralph Brodel, spokesperson for the Autobahn GmbH Nordost, who stated, "Der Knabberer knabbert jetzt" ("The nibbler is nibbling now"). Initially set to start on Friday, April 11, the demolition was postponed due to logistical issues concerning the fall bed beneath the bridge.
Despite the delay, the overall demolition timeline remains intact. The Autobahn GmbH aims to complete the demolition by April 25, 2025, with S-Bahn services on the western ring expected to resume by April 28, 2025. This bridge demolition is part of a larger project that includes the Westend Bridge, which is also scheduled for demolition.
The A100 bridge, known as Bauwerk 5, spans 240 meters and has been a point of concern for several years. Following a routine inspection, authorities discovered that a crack in the bridge had widened significantly. Unlike other bridges of its type, however, internal reinforcement steel had not corroded or broken, which has been a factor in other bridge collapses, such as the Carolabrücke in Dresden.
On March 6, 2025, two of the three lanes heading north were closed for safety reasons, and by March 19, the entire structure was taken out of service, along with the adjacent Westend Bridge, which is another aging prestressed concrete structure built in 1963. The decision to demolish the A100 bridge was made swiftly, as it had been known for around eight years that the structure was deteriorating.
As demolition progresses, the connection between Bauwerke 4 and 5 will be severed first. The plan is to remove the ICC ramp in three sections, with the Ringbahn bridge being cut from the side. The demolition will generate approximately 12,500 tons of concrete rubble, all of which will be transported by truck for recycling.
As the demolition work unfolds, residents in the area have expressed concerns about noise levels. To address this, the district office has set up noise compensation measures for those living near Dernburgstraße. Additionally, to alleviate traffic disruptions caused by the bridge closure, Lindenallee and Ahornallee will be designated as one-way streets until April 30, 2025. This is expected to help reduce noise and protect the health of local residents.
Brodel noted that the demolition is a "highly dynamic process," stating that what typically takes six months will be completed in just six weeks. The demolition will be carried out across six segments, with heavy machinery on-site, including excavators and hydraulic grabbers, to ensure controlled dismantling without large concrete pieces falling unexpectedly.
As the bridge is dismantled, the S-Bahn line that runs beneath it has been closed since late March 2025, affecting around 50,000 daily passengers. Replacement bus services are currently operating between Halensee and Westend, with the S-Bahn expected to resume operations on April 28.
In conjunction with the demolition, the call for tenders for the bridge's replacement construction began on April 11, 2025. The federal government has allocated 150 million euros for this new construction, which is expected to feature three lanes. The technical managing director of the project management company Deges, Andreas Irngartinger, emphasized that minimizing construction time and disruption to S-Bahn services will be critical criteria for selecting the contractor.
The urgency of the project is underscored by the fact that the Ringbahn bridge was closed due to a significant crack that had developed, leading to immediate safety concerns. With the traffic chaos that ensued around the Funkturm interchange—one of Germany's busiest traffic hubs—authorities are keen to expedite the demolition and subsequent rebuilding.
In summary, the demolition of the A100 bridge marks a significant step in addressing infrastructure concerns in Berlin. The swift action taken to dismantle the bridge reflects the city's commitment to ensuring safety and improving transportation networks. As work continues, the community is left to navigate the challenges of construction, with the promise of a new, safer bridge on the horizon.
