CDU and AfD: Peenebrücke causes a dispute in the district council!

CDU and AfD: Peenebrücke causes a dispute in the district council!

In a decisive step for transport planning in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the CDU in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district council approved the AfD's application for the controversial Peene Bridge. This project aims to improve the connection to the popular island of Usedom and at the same time relieve pressure on the city center of Wolgast. District Administrator Michael Sack (CDU) is tasked with driving this project forward, although there has been criticism from political competitors. Five out of eight parliamentary groups in the district council voted for the motion, a decision that was particularly emphasized by CDU parliamentary group leader Jeannette von Busse as important for the local people, as ndr.de reports.

However, the planned suspension bridge over the Peenestrom, which will cost an overwhelming amount of over 500 million euros, has a certain problem: it is not on the Federal Ministry of Transport's list of projects that already have valid building rights. The Federal Ministry of Transport is now demanding a new cost-benefit analysis, which makes financing the construction project more difficult. Many citizens in particular fear that their fears will be exploited, as Green Party politician Alexander Krüger complains.

Financial hurdles and construction needs

The new building is considered the largest road construction project in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The construction project has been on the agenda for almost three years, but there are numerous financial hurdles that need to be overcome. The additional construction costs have now greatly exceeded the original estimates, so that total costs are now expected to be over half a billion euros. The Ministry of Economic Affairs in Schwerin is trying to provide the funds, but financing remains difficult. Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) describes the decisions on road expansion as an important signal, while Mayor Martin Schröter is concerned about the delays, as they make the current traffic situation significantly difficult.

At 42 meters, the new suspension bridge would be the largest of its kind in Europe and is intended not only to improve the connection to Autobahn 20, but also to relieve pressure on Wolgast's old town. The planned completion of the Wolgast bypass is scheduled for the end of 2028, but due to existing financial issues it is not certain whether this time frame can be adhered to.

A look at the bridge infrastructure

Meanwhile, the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Road Construction and Transport Administration is responsible for 414 bridges on federal roads and a further 302 on state roads. These structures are part of an important transport structure that, in addition to their function as transport connections, also takes into account important ecological aspects, such as the creation of wild bridges to avoid the fragmentation of natural areas and habitats. The control system ensures close monitoring of the engineering structures, which contributes to the early detection of damage, according to the information on strassen-mv.de.

Overall, it is clear that the Peene Bridge project is not just a technical project, but is also significantly linked to the quality of life of the citizens in the region. The coming decisions will be crucial to promote both mobility and economic development in the area.