Overview
- The Bereinigungsvorlage reintroduces Deckungskreisläufe for federal road projects, allowing in-year shifts between maintenance and new construction.
- The draft also removes Autobahn GmbH’s previously binding minimum allocation for upkeep, reducing guaranteed funding for repairs.
- Greens budget official Paula Piechotta says the plan abandons the long-stated maintenance-first principle after high-profile bridge closures.
- Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder sought €15 billion for new roads, but the coalition committee approved €3 billion.
- Critics note SVIK money is largely earmarked for maintaining existing infrastructure and report no additional funds for rail expansion, with a continued backlog of only about 170 bridge renovations per year versus roughly 400 needed.