Significantfinancial shortfalls jeopardize road construction work on Bavarian highways, amounting to billions of euros.
In a concerning development, the federal transport ministry's budget for the period 2026 to 2029 faces a deficit of approximately 15 billion euros. This shortfall could potentially impact several states, with Bavaria being one of them.
The projects in question are at various stages, ranging from draft in preparation to under planning approval, and those with planning approval. The financial constraints have led to a halt in the approval of new projects from the demand plan for federal highways.
Martin Geilhufe, the BUND Nature Conservation representative in Bavaria, has voiced criticism over the excessive expansions, claiming that the neglect of maintenance and renovation of existing roads in Bavaria is a significant concern.
The financial requirements have left 74 road construction projects on German motorways at risk of delay. Among these is the eight-lane expansion of Munich's eastern bypass, the A99, between Kirchheim and Haar. Another project at risk is the expansion of the A8 motorway between Rosenheim and Salzburg, between Achenmühle and Bernauer Berg.
Bavaria's Minister-President Markus Söder and Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter have urged for a significant increase in the federal transport budget for new construction and expansion of motorways and railways. The states have also called on the federal government to ensure adequate funding for the expansion, maintenance, and renovation of federal transport infrastructure.
The transport ministers' conference has emphasised the need to continue ongoing projects with determination, implement ready-to-build projects promptly, and fund planning for new projects. The Union party is united on this issue, putting pressure on the parliament in Berlin to address this need.
Martin Geilhufe views the review of many road construction projects in Bavaria as a positive sign. However, he suggests that the focus should be on maintaining substance and small, demand-oriented solutions to ensure that the funds are sufficient.
The federal ministry of transport has announced an additional need of 5.5 billion euros for motorway construction and expansion by 2029. Yet, no available information identifies who specifically applied for this additional financing for the construction and expansion of highways in Germany.
The financial viability of these projects depends on the federal budget of 2026, which is still in the parliamentary process. The transport ministers' conference in Munich stated that the federal budget for 2025 and the current draft of the federal budget for 2026 do not meet the promises made in the coalition agreement.
Bavaria's transport minister, Christian Bernreiter, has expressed concern about potential delays in projects such as the expansion of the A94 motorway, the federal road 12, and the new ICE line between Ulm and Augsburg. A construction release for these projects is only possible by 2025-2029 according to the new financing and implementation plan of the federal motorway company, if the corresponding budget allocations are increased.
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