Scandalous cost explosion: Mülheim Bridge remains a need for renovation!

Scandalous cost explosion: Mülheim Bridge remains a need for renovation!

The Mülheim Bridge in Cologne remains a central issue as the city administration is struggling with enormous increases in the costs of renovation. What started as a project with an original budget of 116.3 million euros has now increased to around 500 million euros. This unexpected development is causing heated discussions among experts and citizens. KSTA reports that completion of the work is now targeted for 2029, pushing the bridge's opening to traffic to March 2028.

Renovation work on the bridge began three years ago and is now proving to be more extensive than initially expected. Loud 24Rhine Increasing costs of an estimated 302 million euros are expected, which will require a new review of the construction calculations. The Cologne City Council is due to decide on the additional costs in May. A guided tour to inspect the partial structure took place on June 11th to give the citizens a better understanding of the background to the renovation work.

The challenge of monument protection

Monument protection is proving to be a major obstacle to construction work. Experts point out that renovation often costs more than building new. It is argued that the estimated 500 million euros could be used to build two new bridges, which would also have a longer shelf life of 70 to 100 years. In comparison, renovations often last a maximum of 50 years KSTA notes.

The city administration, on the other hand, defends the renovation plans and emphasizes the urban planning importance of the existing bridge and the critical location of the structure. In addition to the Mülheim Bridge, the city is also planning to renovate other bridges such as the Deutzer Bridge and Severins Bridge, which are also listed buildings. A situation that should be alleviated in the future by the need for extensive inventory analyzes before building decisions are made.

Disturbances and traffic problems

The project has already led to massive traffic disruptions. Disruptions to Cologne's transport services cannot be overlooked, especially on lines 13 and 18. The bridge had to be completely closed several times, which severely restricted mobility in the region. The city administration is forced to continually monitor the volume of traffic in the area and take action if necessary.

In a larger context, the situation of the Mülheim Bridge represents only part of the challenges that the Federal Ministry of Transport has identified with regard to the maintenance of motorway bridges in Germany. With an estimated 8,000 bridges that need to be modernized or repaired in the next few years, time is of the essence and it is clear: there is a need for action.

The ongoing difficulties and high costs of renovation show how complex and challenging dealing with historical buildings is. A look back at similar projects, such as the demolition and construction of the Köhlbrand Bridge in Hamburg, could shape future planning in Cologne.