VIDEO: Part of the Nemiga Bridge in Minsk Has Collapsed, Traffic Closed

The preliminary cause of the collapse of the pedestrian section of the Nemiga Bridge in Minsk has been revealed, according to the official telegram channel of the Minsk city executive committee.

According to city authorities, the emergency incident occurred due to an increase in load caused by structural fatigue related to subway operations and temperature fluctuations.

“All structures of the overpass will be checked as quickly and thoroughly as possible. It will be determined who and when assessed the wear and tear of the structures and provided opinions on their operational suitability,” stated Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee Dorokhovich.

While the collapsed section of the bridge is being dismantled, experts are also examining the entire overpass. This, including the part intended for vehicle movement, will also be dismantled, said the Vice Chairman of the Minsk city executive committee.

When will a new bridge be built?

The last inspection of the collapsed bridge was conducted in March 2021. A conclusion on its further operational potential was provided, according to Alexander Dorokhovich, Deputy Chairman of the Minsk City Executive Committee. According to him, the collapse due to subway operations and temperature changes are only preliminary hypotheses. The final conclusion will be given by specialists from BeldorNII.

“In a week, the entire overpass will be dismantled, and construction of a new one will immediately begin, but the work will take several months and will be carried out around the clock,” noted Dorokhovich.

As a result of the collapse, not only traffic is blocked at the moment, but also part of the pedestrian section near the Nemiga metro station—the stairs from Freedom Square down to Nemiga are closed, as is the exit from the metro towards Nemiga. The Upper Town towards the bridge is also closed.