The A643 (Mainz - Wiesbaden) has been closed due to a problem with the bridge across the Rhine. A girder of the 'Vorlandbrücke' that connects the main bridge with the bridgehead, has snapped or fell according to HR-Online, causing the bridge deck to dip by 4 centimeters. The Autobahn has been closed in both direction since last night.
The Schierstein Bridge was built in 1962. It is currently being replaced due to its poor condition and high traffic volume, but it won't be completed until 2019. It is unclear how long the closure may last, it could be weeks or more. It led to a traffic chaos in Mainz and Wiesbaden.
http://www.faz.net/aktuell/rhein-ma...uecke-alles-dicht-in-rhein-main-13422370.html
http://www.hr-online.de/website/rub...p?rubrik=36082&key=standard_document_54434241
The Chamber of Industry and Commence (IHK Rheinhessen) calculated the economical costs of the closure caused by the demage of the 'Vorlandbrücke', see
press release (German).
Additional costs for car drivers are about 1.2 million € per day due to loss of time and detours. Additional costs for truck drivers (>12.5t) are > 200,000 €. In total, 1.4 million €. Assuming 20% of the cars are commercial transport, total direct disadvantage for the economy is about 470,000 €/day. In total, the costs are 312 million € per year. The replacement of the Schiersteinerbrücke costs 216 million €.
If there would not yet been a bridge at all, a new bridge would be amortized within 8 month. (note: I think the calculation is wrong. I don't understand why it's 312 million €?!?)
There are rumors, that the Schiersteinerbrücke will be reopened for cars only (Vmax 40km/h) in late March. Anyway, the demaged bridge ("Vorlandbrücke") will not be replaced by 2019 because it was only planned to be temporarily widened for time being. The planning of the new Vorlandbrücke (part of 2x3 widening up to AD Mainz) started in 2006. The plan approval procedure is announced to be started in early 2016. The completion of the new Vorlandbrücke could be in 2023. That means, the
Schiersteinerbrücke would be closed for trucks until 2023.