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ADAC Study Warns Sudden Bridge Closures Could Cost Hundreds of Millions Each Year

Many 1960s–70s structures face renewal, with about 8,000 autobahn bridges due by 2040.

Overview

  • Using PTV’s modeling, the ADAC quantified detours, time losses, and macroeconomic damage if five aging road bridges were abruptly closed.
  • The Norderelbbrücke on the A1 in Hamburg tops the list at about €334 million per year, with roughly 150 million extra car kilometers and 14 million hours lost.
  • The A6 bridge over the Böllinger Bach near Heilbronn is modeled at €172 million annually, while Bonn’s A565 Friedrich-Ebert-Brücke is put at €170 million with about 50 million extra kilometers and over 8 million hours for drivers.
  • At the A3 Donaubrücke Sinzing near Regensburg, a closure would cost around €75 million annually and force detours of up to 30 kilometers, whereas Leipzig’s Agra-Brücke shows the smallest effect at about €14 million.
  • ADAC urges immediate deployment of the special infrastructure fund and accelerated planning to reduce risks and follow-on costs, citing past abrupt shutdowns such as the A45 Rahmede bridge and Berlin structures.