A warning light is positioned at a cordoned-off section of a road. (Illustrative image)
© dpa
The Duncker Bridge in Prenzlauer Berg needs to be rebuilt and will therefore be completely closed from 1 April.
The closure extends along Dunckerstraße between Ahlbecker Straße and Kanzowstraße, according to the transport authority. A diversion will be signposted.
It was stated that the adjacent school and residential buildings, as well as the Dunckerclub, would remain accessible throughout the construction period. The bridge spans two S-Bahn tracks and two mainline railway tracks. The Duncker Bridge was built in 1976 – using Hennigsdorf prestressed concrete, as was the case with the collapsed Carola Bridge in Dresden. Bridges of this design are at risk of stress corrosion cracking: the combination of stress and corrosion can cause sudden cracks to form, which, as in Dresden, can lead to collapse in the worst-case scenario.
According to the local authority, once the structural work is complete, pedestrians and cyclists should be able to use the new bridge as soon as possible. “This is expected to be possible as early as the third quarter of 2027.” According to the plans, the new bridge is due to be completed by the third quarter of 2028.