Press
If repairing old bridges is too expensive, they are often blown up. In Switzerland, a lot of things went wrong, as has now emerged.
Graubünden – If bridges are no longer suitable for traffic, they must be replaced or repaired. During an inspection in 2019, significant damage was found on a railway bridge in Switzerland. Because the repair would probably not have been worthwhile, the old Castieler viaduct was blown up in May 2024 – with consequences.
Railway blows up old bridge – without permission
A viaduct is a bridge that crosses gorges and whose supporting structure usually consists of several arches. The bridge on the Arosa line of the Rhaetian Railway (RhB) is now being replaced by a new structure. The new structure is to be 84 meters long and the viaduct is to last for at least the next 100 years. Construction began in March 2023, but the pillars of the old Castieler viaduct were not blown up until May 2024.
About a month later, the Federal Office of Transport (BAV) suddenly intervened. According to them, the demolition of the old bridge was never approved, although from a legal point of view this should have happened. srf.ch reported, the federal government even prohibited the demolition. The RhB had originally ruled out any demolition for the dismantling of the Castieler viaduct. “The fact that a demolition was carried out now, despite this, contradicts this approval and is therefore illegal,” the media company quoted RTR a press spokesman for the BAV.
What are the legal consequences of blowing up the bridge?
Although the canton of Graubünden considers the demolition of the bridge to be harmless, this is not enough for the Federal Office of Transport. “Construction and dismantling of railway facilities must be approved by the Federal Office of Transport as part of a so-called planning approval procedure. The sole opinion of a cantonal authority is not enough,” quotes srf.ch the spokesman of the BAV.
According to the RhB, the notification of the BAV was “simply forgotten.” After consulting with other authorities, the RhB assumed that no further permits were required. The BAV is also relying on the agreements with these authorities, according to the RhB. The BAV is now waiting for a new statement from the RhB and will then examine any possible consequences. A bridge in Bavaria was also blown up in May 2024. (rd)
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