>>2037666
Bridge in question began only on that triangular island. That'd have been a weird shape of road to get around the towers. Not to talk about the access ramps on the, at the time, densely used island.
And the logistical clusterfuck of trying to raise that old, no longer viable bridge including the portals of course. This issue was separate from the the widening.
Probably would've needed a third bridge for the tram then, along with letting the portals stand there in between the lanes with no more bridges connecting them. Only after an all-emcompassing renovation of course, no way in hell 72 years including two worldwars might've taken their toll there...
This is the most recent pic I could find of the portals, from 1944.

If it helps you sleep at night, one bridge built like that was kept for museum purposes, including the decorative towers. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alte_Harburger_Elbbr%C3%BCcke