Elbebrücke Bad Schandau, Road bridge in Bad Schandau, Germany

The Elbebrücke Bad Schandau is a prestressed concrete bridge that spans the Elbe River and connects Bad Schandau with the opposite bank, carrying both vehicle and foot traffic. The structure consists of multiple sections with varying spans and provides a level roadway for continuous traffic flow.

The structure was built in 1977 as a prestressed concrete bridge, replacing an earlier crossing that dated to the late 1800s. The new bridge was constructed to handle increasing traffic demands and provide improved connections through the Elbe valley.

The bridge has long served as a vital connection between communities on either side of the Elbe and facilitated movement through the Saxon Switzerland valley. It remains part of how locals and travelers navigate the region's geography and daily routines.

The bridge reopened on 10 April 2025 for vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes, and since 12 November 2025 vehicles up to 30 tonnes may cross while keeping a minimum distance of 50 m. The nearest alternative road crossings are at Pirna, 20 km downstream, and Děčín, 25 km upstream. A tachymeter installed since late January 2025 monitors deformation.

The river span is under-spanned by a parabolic concrete band with a rectangular cross-section 3.04 m wide and 0.6 m thick, tied to the deck every 10.5 m by 25 cm concrete discs. The 84 bundled tendons in this band let the piers stand further apart while the construction depth stays constant at 2.70 m.