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Editor:
Presscouncil City of Chemnitz
Pressrelease: 508

For safety reasons: Observation tower on the Totenstein remains closed

Further expert opinion on vibration behaviour to provide remediation proposals

The observation tower on the Totenstein in Grüna must remain closed for safety reasons. Various options have been examined to ensure access, especially on the occasion of the "750 years of Grüna" anniversary celebrations next weekend. In the interests of visitor safety, which must take absolute priority in this decision, the tower will unfortunately remain closed. This also applies to a limited number of visitors.

The deformations on one of the main supporting columns of the 30-metre-high observation tower, partial flaking of the galvanisation and incipient corrosion at the tower's junctions make an intensive structural inspection of the entire structure necessary. A partial repair of the affected components would only appear to provide a solution.

Initial structural analyses, which indicate hairline cracks in the material in the affected areas, point to a structural problem. These indicate that the structure swings open under load due to insufficient spatial rigidity.

For this reason, a further expert opinion on the vibration behaviour of the tower is currently being commissioned, which, in addition to investigating the cause of the damage, will also include renovation proposals. This report will then be used to decide how to proceed.