Germany: Sauerland valley bridge demolished early morning

The Ottfingen valley bridge on Germany's A45 highway, a critical North-South route, was demolished early on July 19, 2026. The controlled demolition used about 160 kilograms of explosives to bring down the first half of the structure, built in 1971.

The demolition is part of a larger plan to replace aging bridges along the Sauerland line, which connects Dortmund and Frankfurt. Increased traffic loads and heavier trucks have severely impacted many of these bridges, necessitating extensive renewal efforts. Twelve of the 60 large bridges on the route have already been rebuilt, with twelve more currently under construction.

Traffic on the A45 was halted in both directions between the Olpe-Süd and Freudenberg junctions from 6:00 AM for safety reasons. The Autobahn GmbH, responsible for the project, hoped to reopen the route by midday, particularly for travelers starting their summer holidays. The controlled fall was scheduled for 8:00 AM, aiming to minimize disruption during the busy travel period.

Spectators were advised that no vantage points with a clear view of the entire bridge would be available outside the safety zone. The Ottfingen bridge's demolition makes way for a new construction, with traffic temporarily rerouted over the second, still-standing half of the bridge.

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Three, two, one - ignition