Mülheim bridge: 200 million euros more for renovation!

Mülheim bridge: 200 million euros more for renovation!

A striking increase in construction costs and a drastic extension of the construction period crack all previous records in the repair of the Mülheim bridge in Cologne. If there are unmistakable problems in the planning, it is not surprising that the total costs for the project are now estimated at just under 500 million euros. This number has already doubled after the planned construction period has been raised from originally four to 11 years. According to the current forecasts, the bridge, which represents an important transport concern of the city, should be completely passable again at the latest in 2029, whereby the first vehicles may roll over the freshly renovated structure in 2028. This reports Radio Köln.

The Mülheim bridge, a listed building, shows itself in a state that is worse than the experts forecast at the beginning of the project. In the middle part of the building, a complete renewal of the substructure is required, which is considered the main cause of the cost explosion. The construction costs, which have increased accordingly due to longer construction times, have further challenges for financing. So that's not all, further supplements are already to be expected.

background of the construction time extensions

But what does this construction time extension mean for the contractors? According to the experts from Bauprofessor, such extensions can result in remuneration claims for the building contractors, provided that there is a deviation from the contractually specified schedules. It plays a role here who is responsible for the delays. If it is about third parties or the client's vicarious agents, this could be financially significant.

In order to assert this claim for remuneration, however, the contractors have to present a differentiated documentation that precisely determines how the delays arose and what financial consequences they resulted in. A judgment of the Higher Regional Court of Hamm has already underlined the importance of a precise presentation of such facts.

legal framework conditions

Now the question arises: What if the client makes changes to the construction period? A judgment of the Federal Court of Justice has made it clear that the mere transmission of a changed construction period does not automatically lead to a claim to additional remuneration. For contractors, this means that you not only have to document the construction times exactly, but also have to check possible alternatives to compensation claims. These legal details underline the complexity of construction projects and the need for transparent communication by everyone involved, as on the platform Anwal.de is illustrated.

The repair of the Mülheim bridge will accompany us until well into the 2030s, and the concerns about the increased costs and the legal challenges will probably not disappear so quickly. Nevertheless, it is hoped in Cologne that the bridge that many commuters and drivers need can finally be used reliably again.