Bridge disaster: Berlin is fighting for 500 billion for quick solutions!

Bridge disaster: Berlin is fighting for 500 billion for quick solutions!

The urgent need for investment in Germany's infrastructure is currently evident in Berlin, where members of the Union and SPD working groups experienced the importance of a 500 billion euro special fund for infrastructure. A particularly impressive example is the three-lane Ringbahn bridge on the Berlin city ring road, which was completely closed due to the acute risk of collapse. This bridge, which is crossed by almost 100,000 vehicles every day, symbolizes the desolate state of the German infrastructure.

Significant parts of the motorway network as well as rail and waterways are in great need of renovation. In order to overcome these challenges, the construction of new transmission networks, hydrogen pipelines, cell phone towers and broadband cables is necessary. However, long planning and approval procedures stand in the way of rapid expansion, which contributes significantly to the investment backlog.

Investment and haste are required

How KPMG Law As described, the infrastructure special fund is intended to clear years of backlog of investments. This haste is not only crucial for defense capability and economic growth, but also for the decarbonization of Germany. The investment backlog has been identified as one of the main causes of the weak economic situation in the country, which requires urgent action.

The Bundeswehr operational plan calls for the infrastructure to be upgraded for military use in order to be able to respond to current challenges. Investments of up to 100 billion euros are planned over the next 12 years, which will benefit the states and municipalities. An additional 100 billion euros are expected from the climate and transformation fund, although the distribution mechanisms for these funds must be worked out in the short term.

Obstacles and solutions

However, the administration faces additional challenges, particularly with regard to a lack of staff in the municipalities, which jeopardizes its ability to act. In order to use the funds effectively, the administration must quickly increase its capacity. The need to accelerate planning, procurement and construction is critical.

Current procurement law offers opportunities for project implementation, but these often remain unused. The optimization of the project organization could be achieved through the following instruments:

• Klare Projektverantwortung und Entscheidungsstrukturen schaffen.
• Planungsbeschleunigung durch Onlinekonsultationen und private Projektmanager.
• Einbindung des Baus in die Planung zur Nutzung von Know-how der Bauindustrie.
• Generalunternehmer-Vergabe als Möglichkeit zur schnelleren Realisierung.
• Verbesserung des Projektmanagements zur Vermeidung von Stillständen.
• Partnerschaftliche Verträge zur Förderung der Zusammenarbeit.
• Förderprogramme zur Weiterreichung von Mitteln an private Empfänger.

Despite this progress, four and a half years are considered too long for the construction of new important bridges. Even without a plan approval process, exceptional permits from nature conservation authorities and extensive tendering procedures are required. If you look at the currently closed status of the Rahmede viaduct on the A45, which has caused long diversions since 2021, it becomes clear that every step in the process carries the risk of lawsuits and further delays.

In order to accelerate the construction of the new Ringbahn bridge and similar projects, the coalition agreement provides for numerous procedural simplifications. These should be implemented in an infrastructure future law in order to effectively address the challenges and counteract the poor infrastructure in Germany in the long term.