Bridges and roads in many municipalities are in need of rehabilitation. This is the result of a recent study. There is also a need to invest heavily in public transport.
Many traffic routes in cities and communities will have to be renovated in the coming years. This is the result of a study carried out by the German Institute for Urban Studies on behalf of the Main Association of the German Construction Industry, the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) and the ADAC.
370 billion euros investment needs
The researchers put the investment requirement at more than 370 billion euros, which would have to be spent by 2030. The funds are necessary to enable the maintenance and expansion of rail networks, roads and paths in German cities, districts and communities.
The study gives the German traffic routes a bad report at the municipal level. According to this, almost every second road bridge in the municipalities is not in a good condition. According to the study, there are major defects in every third of the streets in the municipalities.
Public transport with “alarming picture”
Last but not least, the authors also see a need for billions in investments in local public transport. The study results showed an alarming picture, according to VDV general manager Oliver Wolff to the dpa news agency.
“We have always emphasized that the targeted increase in passengers and the shift to public transport will only work in the long term if the offer is attractive enough for people. In addition to the necessary expansion of the offer, this includes above all a good and efficient infrastructure”.
increase funding
According to Wolff, the funds available to the municipalities under the Municipal Transport Financing Act could no longer be sufficient by 2025. A growing number of registered projects can currently be observed. Wolff therefore advocates a significant increase in funding.
At the federal level, Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) announced last year that funding for the bridge renovation would be increased. According to the ministry, the “renovation backlog” affects 4,000 bridges. The funds for the bridge renovation are to be increased to 2.5 billion euros per year from 2026.