Overview
- Germany’s Federal Transport Ministry set 22 December 2025 for restoring traffic over the Rahmedetalbrücke on the A45.
- Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder said the completion will relieve residents from through traffic and restore the Sauerland A45 corridor.
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to join Schnieder at the opening ceremony in Lüdenscheid.
- The closure forced extensive detours and brought noise, emissions, congestion and delivery delays to Lüdenscheid and the surrounding industrial region.
- The original bridge was closed in December 2021 and demolished in spring 2023, with reconstruction starting in October 2023 and an initial 2026 target now advanced to before Christmas 2025.