Wildly under fire: Rahmede Bridge remains closed despite defects!

Wildly under fire: Rahmede Bridge remains closed despite defects!

In a matter that has heated up tempers in the Cologne region, the parliamentary committee of inquiry into the Rahmede viaduct is coming to an end. After 37 meetings and almost 100 witnesses invited, the result is considered inconclusive. The bridge, which was classified as at risk of collapse eleven months after it was taken over by the new federal highway company, was still rated “satisfactory” at the end of 2020, which raises many questions about the quality of the tests. What is particularly explosive is that it was determined in 2014 that the bridge could no longer be renovated, yet the new construction was repeatedly delayed. Who ultimately bears responsibility for this misery remains unclear, as ksta.de reports.

A central focus is on the statements of Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst. He emphasized that he always relies on the judgments of his experts and does not intervene in their decisions. During his witness interrogation, SPD MP Gordan Dudas was unable to obtain any incriminating information. Wüst argued that due to stable test results, the construction of a new bridge was not considered a priority and the Rahmede Bridge was not raised as a problem. Despite these explanations, an explosive meeting minutes from September 2021, which documents “enormous deficits” in the bridge and recommends a quick replacement, remains in the room. The situation was further complicated by internal tables that showed numerous defects in the bridge as early as May 2021.

Traffic chaos and economic damage

The closure of the Rahmedetal Bridge in December 2021 marked a turning point. This was closed due to massive defects that were discovered during a special inspection. The consequences were devastating for the region: thousands of vehicles were diverted through narrow towns, residents suffered from noise and exhaust fumes, and companies and shipping companies had to contend with significant traffic jams and wasted time. The economic damage is estimated at billions, as zdf.de reports.

According to a study by T&E, over a third of all bridges on motorways and federal highways are dilapidated and in need of either rehabilitation or complete replacement. The investigative committee, which is trying to clarify the delays in the new construction of the Rahmede Bridge, has now referred to the year 2025 - originally the new construction should have started in 2017. In this context, the opposition raised questions about the responsibility of the Ministry of Transport and the role of Wüst.

View of the new building

The new Rahmedetal Bridge is now being built in record time and is scheduled to open in spring 2026. Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder assured that the first parts of the new bridge will soon be available. Let us hope that lessons are learned from this situation and that such a misery does not happen again.