Dresden Bridge

Wednesday's court ruling by Dresden's administrative court overruled a decision made in August to suspend the bridge project after environmentalist groups claimed the structure would endanger the rare lesser horseshoe bats that live on the banks of the Elbe River.

Though the judges said the new bridge would not kill any bats, the ruling allowed for a 30 kph (19 mph) speed limit when the bats are most active at night between April and October, to prevent vehicles from colliding with the animals.

Endangered World Heritage site

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization warned that if Dresden goes ahead with the bridge project, the surrounding Elbe River Valley could lose its coveted spot on the World Heritage list. The UN body maintains the modern structure would not match the character of the city that has been called "Florence on the Elbe."

In June, UNESCO moved the site, which includes the 20-meter (65-foot) Elbe River Valley as well as downtown Dresden, to its "endangered list" and gave the city an Oct. 1 deadline to redraft the bridge plans.

The state of Saxony, in which Dresden is located, has ignored both the UNESCO deadline and criticism from the federal government. Instead, it has heeded a public referendum in which two thirds of city voters approved the bridge designed to put an end to long detours and heavy traffic flowing in and out of the city.

Construction contracts have already been awarded for the 635-meter, four-lane structure.