Senate decides on bridge renovation programme

Last year, the bridge at Wuhlheide in the Berlin district of Oberschöneweide had to be demolished. (File photo)

In Berlin, 175 dilapidated bridges are to be replaced with new structures within 15 years. A further 125 are to undergo major repairs. This is set out in the Bridges Master Plan 2025–2040, which has been approved by the Senate.

State Secretary Andreas Kraus from the Senate Department for Transport and the Environment put the investment costs for the projects at around 1.84 billion euros. Initial funding has been earmarked in the 2026/2027 biennial budget. To finance the programme, the Senate is also relying on EU and federal grants, as well as partnerships with private investors who could, for example, pre-finance projects.

Safety-related traffic restrictions on numerous bridges

According to Kraus, Berlin is currently responsible for 1,047 bridges used by cars, cyclists, pedestrians and public transport. A significant proportion of this infrastructure is ageing: many bridges are over 100 years old and no longer meet today’s standards.  According to the transport authority, only 19 per cent of the bridges – just under a fifth – are in good or very good condition. The remainder require regular maintenance or replacement. The consequences of the dilapidated infrastructure are evident: load restrictions, closures and other traffic restrictions apply to a number of bridges.

Planning and approval procedures to be speeded up

According to Kraus, construction projects involving bridges are to be accelerated as part of the master plan. The aim is to shorten planning and approval procedures, increase digitalisation and improve sustainability, in order to gradually clear the backlog of renovation work. According to the transport authority, planning and approval procedures for bridges currently take at least ten years on average. Added to this are several years of construction time, with different parties often responsible for sub-projects. There is an urgent need for action to simplify these processes. “The aim of the Bridges Master Plan is to secure the capital’s bridge infrastructure in the long term, modernise it and make it fit for the future,” said Transport Senator Ute Bonde (CDU) regarding the master plan. After all, Berlin is a city of bridges, which are indispensable for mobility within the city and connect people, neighbourhoods and living spaces.