“We are proud that this day was so successful. Without the demolition, we would have had to close the B279 for much longer and significantly delayed the construction of the second superstructure of the new viaduct,” Cord Lüesse, director of the northwest branch, is quoted as saying. The B279 is expected to be accessible again at the beginning of April.

+++ 12.31 p.m.: Demolition master Klaus Berge brought down the bridge with a blasting machine from 1976. This makes it only eight years younger than the old Thalaubach Valley Bridge, which was built in 1968. However, the device is regularly maintained to ensure it does its job. And that’s what happened this morning at Döllbach!

After Berge triggered the explosion with a crank, the approximately 300 meter long bridge collapsed as planned in two places and lay like a carpet in the valley. The blasting master is satisfied: “The blasting went 100 percent as planned,” said Berge after the large cloud of dust had cleared.

Big bang near Döllbach: old A7 bridge successfully blown up

A few minutes later the 300 meter exclusion zone was lifted. This allowed the engineers to enter the construction site to check the new bridge for possible cracks and damage. If it remained intact during the blast, the closure on the A7 between the Fulda triangle and the Bad Brückenau-Volkers junction can probably be lifted again around 5 p.m.

Meanwhile, the many thousands of onlookers have started their journey home again – so there is a lot of activity on the streets. The police regulate the traffic. Some Döllbach residents, however, organize private garden parties.

+++ 11.30 a.m.: The demolition went according to plan. First the pillars to the north collapsed, and a few seconds later the old bridge that led to the south also fell. Impressions in our picture gallery.

+++ 11.02 a.m.: After two powerful bangs, the A7 Thalaubach bridge has just been successfully brought down. As a large cloud of dust rises, applause erupts from the thousands of onlookers.

+++ 10:59 a.m.: The warning signals sounded after a few minutes delay. Hundreds of cell phones and around ten drones are in the air. If everything goes according to plan, the A7 Thalaubach bridge will be brought down shortly. You will find the first pictures and voices directly afterwards in this article.

+++ 10.42 a.m.: The A7 Thalaubach bridge is expected to fall in just under 20 minutes. 100 kilograms of explosives were stored in the pillars. In advance, workers had already sawed holes about one meter high in the pillars in several places with diamond saws in order to weaken the structure.

The public viewings on both sides of the bridge (Thalau and Döllbach) are expected to be very popular. 500 sausages have already been sold in Thalau. The boys' club is currently organizing supplies. Those responsible for the club report that there were several hundred onlookers. On the Thalau side, an engineer explains what will happen during the explosion.

There is a lot more going on on the Döllbach side. No wonder, because you have a clear view of the explosion from this side. Between the “Kiebitzen” on the Thalau side and the blast, the new bridge restricts the view a little.

+++ 10.27 a.m.: The 300-meter security zone around the bridge is now completely sealed off. There is an absolute ban on entry. The B279 between Döllbach and Gersfeld, which runs under the bridge, has been closed for a few days. And it will probably stay that way until April 2nd.

Not only is the traffic in the area overloaded due to the large number of onlookers (and closures), but also the mobile phone network. The reporters on site are having problems transferring data. Our planned Instagram live stream may therefore be cancelled. We will inform you as soon as there is news. In any case, we will publish photos and videos afterwards.

+++ 10.07 a.m.: The A7 has been closed between the Fulda triangle and the Bad Brückenau-Volkers junction for a few minutes. The closure is expected to last until 5 p.m.

While a helicopter is circling over the area, more than 1,000 people have already gathered at the public viewing in Döllbach to watch the bridge being blown up with their own eyes. A brass band plays and the first sausages and drinks are served over the bar. The Döllbach fire department bought 500 sausages. She still has the option of 250 more, so there could be up to 750 sausages.

Update from March 15, 9:57 a.m.: The A7 Thalaubach bridge near Döllbach is scheduled to be blown up in just over an hour. The calm before the storm reigns in a cordoned off area near the bridge. The first people involved are on site – primarily employees of the companies involved and staff from the technical relief agency. The project is documented visually on display boards.

Meanwhile, it feels like people are flocking from all directions to the public viewing in Döllbach. You come on foot or by bike. And the parking lot is filling up. The mayor of Eichenzell, Johannes Rothmund (CDU), has just arrived. He dropped his family off at the public viewing and made his way to those responsible in the cordoned off area.

There's not much going on in Döllbach's through town anymore. And there are people standing and chatting in pretty much every front yard.

A7 Thalaubach bridge falls today – all information about the demolition

First report from March 15th, 9:03 a.m.:

Eichenzell – This Sunday there is no shortage of major events in East Hesse: In addition to the Local election find In some places – like in Haunetal – mayoral elections instead of. But that's not all: a large bridge is being blown up in the community of Eichenzell – more precisely: the old parts of the A7 Thalaubach bridge. You can find out all the important information about the closures and events surrounding the demolition in this article. This will be updated again and again throughout the day.

Why is the bridge being blown up? The Thalaubach Valley Bridge from 1968 must make room for a new building. The old bridge could no longer withstand the increased traffic load in the long term. The demolition is the fastest way to build the second new bridge, which is significantly more stable and is expected to last longer. According to Autobahn GmbH, this method not only saves time, but also shortens the closure of the B279 by around two thirds and the overall construction time by around six months.

When and how does the explosion take place? The demolition is scheduled for Sunday at 11 a.m. Two explosions take place one after the other: first the northern part, three seconds later the southern part. A total of 100 kilograms of explosives were used in the bridge's pillars. In advance, weakenings were sawn into the pillars, fall beds made of earth were built under the bridge and the Thalaubach stream was secured. About five minutes before the explosion, the blaster sounds a signal, and two to three minutes beforehand a loud scare sound can be heard to scare away birds.

Where can you watch the explosion? Spectators should stay on paved paths. There are public viewings on both sides of the bridge:

• Thalau: The Thalau boys' club invites you to have a morning drink at the 300-meter barrier from 10 a.m. Parking is possible at the sports field, the rest is within walking distance. Civil engineers provide live information about the process.
• Döllbach: Döllbach fire department is hosting a public viewing from 10 a.m. on the K69 above Döllbach. 1 euro each is charged for food and drinks. The K69 will be a one-way street in the direction of Büchenberg.

Since the explosion is very loud, ear protection can be useful. If you can't be there, you can watch the demolition via live stream on the Instagram channel of the Fuldaer Zeitung track. The broadcast starts about five minutes before the explosion – around 10:55 a.m. It can be viewed in the story area by clicking on the profile picture (FZ logo).

Which areas are likely to be closed?

• A7: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. between the Fulda triangle and the Bad Brückenau-Volkers junction
• B279 under the bridge: already closed, expected to remain closed until April 2nd
• Economic and cycle path Thalau–Döllbach: closed until March 24th
• Barrier around the bridge: 300 meter radius from 10 a.m., access prohibited
• Through towns of Motten, Kothen and Speicherz: absolute no stopping

Traffic will be rerouted as follows: Southbound direction: Fulda triangle – A66 – Fulda-Süd – B279 – Rothemann – Döllbach – L2790/St2790 – Bad Brückenau-Volkers. Direction of travel north: reversed accordingly.

What happens after the explosion? After the collapse, the existing new bridge will be inspected. An engineer inspects it for possible damage and then opens it to traffic. Steel superstructures and pillars of the blown-up bridge are dismantled and transported away.