Federal Audit Office Urges New Government to Increase Funding for Bridge Renovation

The Federal Audit Office has raised concerns about the slow pace of modernization for thousands of dilapidated road bridges in Germany. According to the agency, the targets set for renovation by 2032 are increasingly unlikely to be met, leading to further deterioration and potential closures on highways and federal roads.

Kay Scheller, head of the Federal Audit Office, emphasized the urgency of prioritizing bridge repairs. He criticized the Federal Ministry of Transport for portraying progress in bridge renovations more positively than warranted and falling behind essential targets. The Audit Office estimates that by 2026, there will be a financing requirement of approximately EUR2.1 billion for 400 partial structures, while the Ministry has only allocated EUR1.4 billion.

In response, the Ministry refuted claims of misleading representations, asserting that bridge renovations are a top priority. A spokesperson stated that all bridges are being monitored, and the implementation of the renovation program is on schedule. The Ministry reported that around 4,000 highway bridges need reinforcement or replacement, along with roughly 500 additional bridge structures outside the core network. Due to the urgent nature of these repairs, the focus will initially be on larger, more complex bridges, which require more time and resources.

The Autobahn GmbH, responsible for highway management, acknowledged the report and plans to evaluate its findings to draw appropriate conclusions. A spokesperson reiterated that modernizing bridges remains a crucial focus for the organization.

In 2022, the federal government initiated a program aimed at modernizing the most critical and deteriorating bridges by 2032. However, as of the end of 2024, the Autobahn GmbH has completed only 40% of the planned renovations. In 2024 alone, just 69 of the 280 scheduled partial structures were modernized, and this trend is expected to continue. Scheller noted that the gap between planned renovations and actual progress is widening, stating that to meet the 2032 target, the Autobahn GmbH would need to modernize approximately 590 partial structures annually--a figure he deems unrealistic.

The Audit Office, which typically highlights inefficient uses of taxpayer money, has called for increased funding and resources for the Autobahn GmbH. However, it has refrained from specifying the additional financial requirements, especially with the unpredictable nature of construction costs. The report suggests that new construction projects should be postponed to ensure sufficient planning capacity for the renovation of deteriorating structures. The incoming coalition government, comprised of the Union and SPD, is tasked with establishing the infrastructure fund to address these needs.

Germany's highway network contains around 28,000 partial structures, with an additional 25,000 on federal roads, which are managed by the states. The Ministry of Transport has indicated that approximately 3,000 partial structures on federal roads must be prioritized for modernization. In many cases, complete bridge reconstruction may not be necessary, as bridges on federal roads are often simpler to replace.

The condition of bridges has deteriorated significantly, largely due to the increasing volume of truck traffic. Scheller highlighted that bridges on federal highways are critical points in the transportation infrastructure, and their condition directly affects overall traffic efficiency.

The Federal Audit Office, an independent financial control body, has accused the government of overlooking the backlog in planned renovations. It noted that the official statistics include new constructions and non-priority measures, which can distort the true picture of progress. Additionally, the Autobahn GmbH has been unable to specify how much funding is allocated annually for bridge modernization efforts.