Ailing bridges: NRW logistics fight against traffic chaos!

Ailing bridges: NRW logistics fight against traffic chaos!

The dilapidated bridges in North Rhine-Westphalia are increasingly causing problems in the logistics industry. Trucks often have to switch to alternative routes, which increases the strain of other bridges and the likelihood of traffic jams increases. According to Marcus Hover, the Vice General Manager of the Association of Transport Management and Logistics North Rhine-Westphalia, today's traffic density was not taken into account when planning the bridges in the 1960s.

The situation is already tense because many Rhine bridges are occupied by weight limits for vehicles or cause traffic jams due to construction sites. Hover warned of a possible domino effect in which the alternative movements of heavy transports could further overwhelm the already heavily loaded bridges. These problems were noticed, especially in times when the economic activities increase again. The decline in freight transports due to a weak economy could quickly turn back.

growing costs for logistics companies

The current situation has far -reaching financial consequences for the logistics companies. Through the bypass, they record longer travel times and higher fuel consumption, which can usually not be passed on to customers, especially for long -term contracts. In addition, forwarding agents have had to pay an increased truck toll since December, which further increases the costs. The association demands that the toll revenue of the federal government are completely invested in the renovation and expansion of the infrastructure to improve the ailing location.

In the greater Düsseldorf/Neuss area, the situation is particularly critical. Here the Fleher Bridge of the A46 has to deal with constant construction sites. The Leverkusen bridge, which has been blocked for truck traffic for years, has further tightened the situation. Another bridge, the Josef Cardinal Frings Bridge, has recently not been used by vehicles over 7.5 tons.

The latest decision on the “Berliner Brücke” on the A59 in Duisburg is particularly dramatic. According to dpa, heavy transports over 48 tons are no longer allowed to use the bridge, as a special test revealed considerable damage that endangers the load capacity of the bridge. However, the bridge remains navigable for normal truck traffic and cars. This bypass is of essential importance not only because of commercial traffic, but also for access to the Duisburg port.

hover found that the situation for heavy load transports has become extremely challenging. This transport often required extensive plans, including large detours, especially for the transport of wind turbines. "I cannot imagine that you will still enjoy your work," he summed up the difficulties that the logistics industry currently has to deal with through the infrastructure problems.