Amid the total closure of the Bonn North Bridge, Oliver Krischer, the Traffic Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia and a member of The Greens, is urgently calling for a significant acceleration of motorway bridge renovation across Germany. Krischer emphasized the need for proactive maintenance, stating, “We must renovate in advance rather than always reacting.” In a petition that North Rhine-Westphalia plans to submit to the Federal Council this Friday, he demands that nationwide efforts must modernize a minimum of 400 bridge components annually, a stark increase from the current figure of 200. He further insists that the Autobahn GmbH must establish the necessary conditions and capacities to meet this goal.
Krischer noted a critical shift in resource allocation within the system. He explained that previously, two-thirds of funds were dedicated to new construction and expansion, while only one-third went toward upkeep. He acknowledged that this ratio has effectively reversed-with nearly 80 percent now directed toward maintenance-but stressed that there still needs to be considerable adjustment in the way resources are provided and plans are managed.
In addition to demanding increased operational capacity, the petition calls for a higher allocation of funds from the special infrastructure fund for the repair and replacement of facilities. It also requires that the level of federal investment be raised to genuinely meet the required standards.
