The condition of Germany's highways is concerning in many respects, particularly due to the five thousand bridges in urgent need of repairs. These were largely built before 1985 when designers accounted for smaller and lighter vehicles and lower traffic loads.
The deterioration of infrastructure can be attributed in large part to the insufficient resources allocated in recent years for bridge renovations and maintenance. The German government recognizes the issue, but renovating all bridges simultaneously is not feasible. In 2022, Volker Wissing, the federal transport minister, stated that they aim to refurbish 400 bridges annually, but the work qualifies as a multi-generational task. For example, the Rahmede Bridge in North Rhine-Westphalia was closed at the end of 2021, and after demolition, the construction of the new bridge is expected to be completed no sooner than 2026. The situation surrounding the Rahmede Bridge illustrates the challenges well: since its closure, the small town of Lüdenscheid and surrounding villages have experienced significant traffic and environmental strain, leading to kilometers-long traffic jams, noise, and pollution. This is exacerbated by financial shortfalls and rising costs.
From 2025, the German government will have to implement strict austerity measures to comply with the constitutional debt brake. Rising inflation and labor costs further increase construction expenses. In 2023, 4.6 billion euros were allocated for the refurbishment of motorways and bridges, and this amount is planned to increase to 5 billion euros per year from 2025. However, according to the state-owned Autobahn GmbH, an additional 5.5 billion euros will be needed in the period from 2025 to 2028 to bring the bridges into proper condition.
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