Overview

• A new report reveals that 16,000 federally owned bridges in Germany are structurally deficient, requiring urgent repair or replacement.
• The estimated cost of addressing the repair backlog across federal, state, and local levels has surged to €100 billion, far exceeding government projections.
• Demolition of Berlin’s Ringbahnbrücke, a critical transport link, is underway after its closure in March 2025 due to severe structural damage.
• Critics argue the 2022 federal bridge modernization program is insufficient, covering only a fraction of the highway network and failing to address the full scope of the crisis.
• Transport & Environment is calling for a policy shift prioritizing maintenance and repair funding over new road construction to mitigate further safety risks and escalating costs.