Refurbishment of the Mülheim bridge: cost explosion and construction delays!

Refurbishment of the Mülheim bridge: cost explosion and construction delays!

Köln, Deutschland - Cologne is again a bird's eye view of stagnating construction projects. The renovation of the Mülheim bridge is developing into a financial and time -off. Originally estimated at costs of 188 million euros, the sum has increased to astonishing 498.2 million euros. The draft of releasing the bridge again by the end of 2026 will now be postponed to the end of March 2028, such as Rundschau online reported. This shift does not only affect planning, but also the already considerable additional costs that have increased by 196.7 million euros.

The reasons are versatile: undiscovered defects, rising wage and material prices as well as additional demands from construction companies contribute to the difficulties. Arrived in the second of a total of five construction phases, the costs of the first two phases amount to 103.7 million euros. The structural problems that have been uncovered have been included in the non-probed lignite layers in the bank area and a rotted track structure of the Cologne traffic companies, which results in compelling measures for a complete rebuilding.

effects on public transport

The delays in the renovation of the Mülheim bridge also have direct consequences for tram lines 13 and 18. Until the actual restoration of the regular operation, rail replacement traffic will be necessary, which will be preserved at least until the end of June. At WDR it also says that an extension of the bus replacement traffic is realistic if the bridge is not completed in good time can.

The tracks have already been laid, but a definitive attachment and adjustment is still pending. The installation of the overhead lines is also not completed. The ADAC alerted that these delays could result in considerable follow -up costs, estimated at around 4 million euros, especially for public transport. In addition, additional costs for vehicle traffic are expected due to cumbersome detours and time losses.

Cologne in change

These developments are only a small piece of mosaic in a large picture that is characterized by many major projects in Cologne. The city is changing, with a variety of projects that will change the cityscape sustainably. This includes the north-south city railway, one of the largest urban planning projects in Germany, with the aim of a better connection and a reduction in car traffic. The construction should be completed at the earliest in 2028. Likewise in planning: a new district in the Kreuzfeld area for up to 8,000 people, as well as the conversion of the Deutz harbor into a residential and work quarters, such as 24rhein In view of these circumstances, it is inevitable that the construction work around the Mülheim bridge turns out to be a continuous challenge. The focus is now on to fix the existing defects as well as to find cost -efficient solutions for the city and its inhabitants, while Cologne at the same time sets the course for the future.