Overview

• Germany’s Transport Ministry says roughly €15 billion is missing for federal trunk roads in 2026–2029 and has ordered construction stops, including on Hamburg’s long-planned harbor crossing.
• Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil sent a sharply worded letter requesting a detailed report on project choices and spending flows, noting about €166 billion is budgeted for transport this legislative term and higher 2025 highway funds.
• An internal Autobahn GmbH list of dozens of expansion projects lacking funding became public, drawing criticism from state leaders and highlighting unfunded schemes such as the A20 and A39.
• Tensions reflect the shift of more than €10 billion from the core budget into a special fund with stricter rules that cannot finance new road construction, despite the broader €500 billion investment vehicle.
• Local stakes are mounting as reports flag projects like the B178 connection to the A4 and the B156 bypass as at risk, with 2026 budget negotiations ongoing and the dispute unresolved.