Political earthquake in Western Pomerania: AfD application causes change!

Political earthquake in Western Pomerania: AfD application causes change!

A political earthquake recently shook the Vorpommern-Greifswald district council: the AfD parliamentary group's first proposal was not only heard, but also supported by the CDU. This was reported by the Baltic Sea newspaper. The joint application calls on the district administrator to support the rapid further construction of the Wolgast bypass and the associated bridge connection. The background is the stalled financing issues in connection with the construction of a bridge over the Peenestrom to the island of Usedom.

The ongoing pressure to improve infrastructure is reinforced by the rising total costs of over half a billion euros. Construction offers are significantly higher than original estimates. AfD politician Stephan Reuken made it clear that the region was facing an impending “traffic gridlock” and called for a “clear political signal” to the federal and state governments.

Progress in Wolgast

Construction work on the new Wolgast bypass is slowly taking shape. Like that NDR According to reports, around 250,000 tons of sand and earth are currently being moved to build the 7-kilometer-long bypass road with a new bridge to the island of Usedom. Daily traffic in the region, especially during the summer months, exceeds 15,000 vehicles, highlighting the need for such a project.

The earthworks are extremely complex, requiring digging up to twelve meters deep in some areas. Construction is expected to last until the end of 2028, although delays cannot be ruled out. The total cost of the road and bridge is around 287 million euros, which shows how challenging and costly it is to improve transport routes in the region.

Criticism and challenges

Amid the political support, however, there is also harsh criticism. Alexander Krüger from the Greens described the collaboration with the AfD as populist and was skeptical about the motives of the application. On the other hand, CDU parliamentary group leader Jeanette von Busse emphasized that it was primarily about a political statement that addressed the concerns of citizens.

This discussion takes place in a context characterized by persistent underfunding of public infrastructure in Germany. As the PwC reports, infrastructure projects are always in competition with other government expenditure, which makes their implementation even more difficult. Inefficient planning processes and a lack of transparency have led to cost overruns and delays in the past.

The challenges are many, but the need for effective, sustainable infrastructure remains unchanged. While Wolgast hopes that the new bypass will provide relief, it remains to be hoped that politicians will finally take the necessary steps to ensure smooth and rapid progress.