Forty-three motorway bridges with a length of more than 50 metres are in "unsatisfactory" condition, according to an analysis by the Federal Quality Association for the Repair of Concrete Structures available to the German Press Agency.
This means that stability, traffic safety - or both - are significantly impaired or no longer given.
Marco Götze, chairman of the Federal Quality Association, said politicians and the federal motorway company must act: "especially with motorway bridges, we cannot rely on the next accident being as mild as the partial collapse of the Carola Bridge in Dresden."
According to its own information, the Federal Quality Association has identified the motorway bridges in Germany with the worst condition ratings. The study was based on the bridge statistics regularly published by the Federal Highway Research Institute.
There are a total of 3,786 motorway bridges with a length of at least 50 metres across the country.Â
According to the study, of the 100 worst-rated bridges, most are in North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Bavaria, and Baden-WĂĽrttemberg. Together with Lower Saxony, these states also have the most motorway bridges overall.
Bridge ratings are based on condition grades that indicate acute damage and signs of wear and tear.
One in ten bridges 'insufficient'
Of the country's 3,786 motorway bridges of at least 50 metres, 1,382 had received the condition assessment "still sufficient".
But 378 were found to have structural conditions considered "insufficient". One in five of Germany's 100 most battered motorway bridges is in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
In March 2022, Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing presented a package of measures for faster bridge modernization. Wear over the past decades has left its mark on many bridges, especially due to increasing heavy traffic.
In the coming years, 400 bridges per year are to be renovated.
For example, the Rahmede motorway bridge on the Sauerland line (A45) became known nationwide. It was closed due to severe damage and has since been blown up. A new bridge is planned to be built there.
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