Alarming bridge states: Bavaria affected-immediate measures required!

Alarming bridge states: Bavaria affected-immediate measures required!

alarming news from Germany: A current analysis shows that security on the highways is endangered by the questionable condition of many bridges. According to experts, a total of 43 motorway bridges that are longer than 50 meters have received an "insufficient". It is worrying that there are eight of these bridges in Bavaria.

The analysis comes from the Federal License Community repair of concrete structures and indicates that the stability or traffic safety of these bridges is significantly impaired. Especially with regard to the motorway bridges in Bavaria, the investigation has uncovered several critical points.

A look back at the problem

The bridges in Bavaria, which were rated as "insufficient", have reached a score of 3.5. Among them are two bridges of the A7 in Bad Brückenau, a bridge of the A70 in Staffelbach, a bridge of the A81 in Kist, two bridges of the A7 in Marktbreit and a bridge of the A93 in Regensburg and A96 near Ferthofen.

Marco Götze, the chairman of the federal approval community, therefore demands quick action from politics and the federal government. He warns that one cannot rely on the fact that an accident, like the partial fall of the Carol Bridge in Dresden, runs lightly. "We now have to act to avoid future disasters," he said.

The present analysis is based on the data of a total of 3,786 motorway bridges with a minimum length of 50 meters and is based on the regularly published bridge statistics of the Federal Street Institute. The condition assessment of these bridges not only shows damage, but also the so -called load index, which examines the performance in terms of age and material.

the nationwide comparison

Of the nationwide bridges, only 1,382 received an evaluation of "still sufficient", while 378 were classified as "not sufficient". A particularly critical point is that every fifth of the 100 damaged motorway bridges is located in North Rhine-Westphalia. In Bavaria, on the other hand, 14 bridges are among the 100 worst, which brings fourth place to the Free State.

To meet this challenge, Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) launched a package of measures for the accelerated modernization of bridges in March 2022. The aim is to renovate 400 bridges annually in the coming years. This initiative is a reaction to the many bridges that have been affected by the pressure of intensive heavy traffic in recent decades.

A current example is the Rahmeot motorway bridge on the A45, which has already been blocked due to serious damage and finally blown up. Your replacement is already being planned, which underlines the need for new solutions for the bridge infrastructure.

The results presented here clarify that there is an urgent need for action in order to maintain traffic safety in Germany. The explosive Situation with the Autobahnbrücken in Bavaria is an alarm sign for everyone affected, both on a political and social level. Time is urged and those responsible are challenged to react quickly and effectively.