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Germany's autobahn bridges falling apart

As many as 5,000 bridges along Germany's autobahns are so decrepit that they need to be renovated or rebuilt as quickly as possible. But the state, restrained by a national debt brake, is struggling to find the money.

This decrepit bridge over the Rhine-Herne canal has had to be closed for heavy vehiclesImage: /dpa/picture alliance To do that, planning, procedures, and coordination will need to be simplified to speed up renovation and new construction. Setting a speed limit and closing it to heavy vehicles could extend a bridge's life, but even these kinds of restrictions cannot rule out a sudden collapse. A law was introduced at the end of 2023 that will eliminate the need for permits and environmental impact assessments for bridges that are being widened to add lanes as part of renovations.

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