Dresden loses UNESCO status over bridge

The historic German city of Dresden has been taken of the UN’s list of World Heritage sites over the construction of a bridge.

Dresden’s Baroque architecture – much of it reconstructed after WWII bombing – combined with its picturesque setting in the Elbe valley, earned it UNESCO status 2004. But the body has now decided the new four-lane city centre bridge completely alters its image. One Dresden UNESCO official said the decision to go ahead with project could endanger prospective UNESCO sites in Germany. “They look more carefully at new applications,” he said. City authorities say the bridge is needed to alleviate huge traffic congestion in the centre of town. Construction began after residents backed the idea in a referendum.

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