Germany's efforts to renovate aging bridges are falling behind schedule, according to a report by the country’s federal audit office. The auditors have raised concerns over the feasibility of the government’s current targets and have called for increased investment.
As part of a national infrastructure plan, 280 bridge structures were scheduled for renovation this year. However, only 69 have been modernised so far. The goal is to restore the country’s deteriorating bridges by 2032, but auditors say the pace of work needs to accelerate significantly.
To meet the 2032 target, Autobahn GmbH — the state-owned company responsible for the project — would need to complete work on approximately 590 substructures each year moving forward. The audit office described this expectation as unrealistic.
The report also highlighted a discrepancy in projected costs. Auditors estimate that 2.1 billion euros will be required in the coming year to renovate 400 substructures. In contrast, the transport ministry projects the figure at 1.4 billion euros.
Auditors also criticized the ministry for what they described as overly positive portrayals of progress and shortfalls in hitting key targets.
A spokesperson for the transport ministry defended the program, stating that bridge renovation remains a top priority. The ministry also rejected claims that it had overstated progress, asserting that updates are communicated transparently in collaboration with Autobahn GmbH.
Although the audit office called for more funding for Autobahn GmbH, it did not suggest a specific amount, citing uncertainties in construction price trends.
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By Proptechbuzz
By Ravi Kumar