Suche
Mein Konto
Merz promises Peene Bridge in Wolgast: Cost explosion is causing unrest!
Chancellor Merz ensures the financing of the Peene Bridge in Wolgast. Construction costs rise to 500 million euros.
Merz promises Peene Bridge in Wolgast: Cost explosion is causing unrest!
During his cabinet visit to Schwerin, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) gave a clear commitment to continuing the Peenestrom Bridge construction project in Wolgast. The financing of the further construction, which is part of the planned bypass, has been officially confirmed. With a total volume of 500 million euros, the construction costs significantly exceed the originally estimated 140 million euros, which is cause for concern. [NDR].
The situation is complex because there are already delays in awarding contracts caused by higher bids from construction companies. Traffic is partly moving on the bypass, but the core of the bridge has not yet been built. This modern suspension bridge could not only better connect Autobahn 20 with the island of Usedom, but also relieve Wolgast's old town from ongoing traffic jams.
Delays and ambiguities
The planned completion of the bypass is scheduled for the end of 2028, but experts have already expressed concerns that this deadline will be unlikely to be sustainable. Mayor Martin Schröter of Wolgast is dissatisfied with the delays that are affecting the progress of the project. The Neubrandenburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry also criticizes the situation. The CDU parliamentary group in the Schwerin state parliament is also dissatisfied and blames Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) for the problems. The politicians are calling on the country's road construction administration to move forward with the process quickly, while Economics Minister Wolfgang Blank (independent) confirms that negotiations are currently underway with Berlin.
The federal government must make a decision within the next four weeks. The companies are bound to their offers until the end of November, which increases the urgency.
The new economic viability assessment is already available in Berlin and appears to continue to justify the project economically. However, it remains unclear when the federal government will release it. The uncertainty is noticeable for everyone involved and leads to a tense situation that needs to be clarified. Last but not least, a current outbreak of avian influenza in Sassen-Trantow means that several communities in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district have to provide stables and protection zones, which further contributes to the challenges in the construction industry.