- CDU MEP Ploß sees Hamburg as a logistics location at risk
Hamburg CDU Bundestag member Christoph Ploß sees the position of the Hanseatic city as a logistics hub threatened due to delays in important road construction projects. The replacement of the planned Norder- and Süderelb bridges on the A1 is not expected to be completed until at least 2029, according to the Federal Ministry of Transport, he told the German Press Agency. This could lead to long-term traffic chaos in Hamburg. Furthermore, important projects such as the planned continuation of the A20 in Schleswig-Holstein, the A26-Ost harbor passage, and the new construction of the Köhlbrand bridge are not progressing or only slowly.
"Hamburg has been a logistics city for centuries and relies on its transportation routes more than any other city," said Ploß, who is also the spokesman for the Union in the Bundestag's transport committee. "But the Hamburg Senate and the traffic light government in Berlin are neglecting the necessary infrastructure." He called for "a real acceleration in planning and construction, as well as a consistent implementation of important infrastructure projects."
The Norderelb and Süderelb bridges need to be replaced
The Norderelb bridge was built in the 1960s, and the Süderelb bridge consists of two partial structures from 1938 and 1965. Both bridge structures are dilapidated and have reached the end of their useful life. They are to be replaced as part of the eight-lane expansion of the A1 between the Hamburg-Südost junction and the Harburg interchange.
Only a few days ago, the Autobahn GmbH subjected the Norderelb bridge to a main inspection. The results - and information on any necessary repair measures - are not expected to be available until at least October, according to the Federal Ministry of Transport.
"Until the results of the investigation are available, traffic management measures will be implemented as needed to ensure the necessary remaining useful life of the Norderelb bridge until the first partial structure is completed," the ministry's response to Ploß states. Traffic management measures mean traffic restrictions.
Ploß warns of cuts in the federal budget at the expense of infrastructure. "If there are delays here, there will be disruptions on the A1 and thus a traffic collapse in eastern Hamburg," the politician warned. "The traffic light coalition in Berlin and the red-green Senate must finally put pressure on the new construction of the Norderelb bridge."
At the same time, he warned against cuts in the federal budget at the expense of infrastructure. "The more tax money, for example, is distributed like a watering can, the less remains for infrastructure," said the CDU politician. "But whoever saves on infrastructure is cutting down the tree that stands for the foundation of our country."
The ministry did not make any specific statements about the financing of the planned construction measures: "Only after the granting of building rights can statements be made about the financing of the mentioned measure, depending on the then available budget funds, the financial requirements of the projects under construction, and in competition with other ready-to-build measures."
To enable faster planning and construction in Germany in the future, the European collective redress system urgently needs to be reformed, Ploß demanded. The federal government also seems to assume that the construction of the new Norderelb bridge could be delayed by lawsuits. "The start of construction will now depend on the outcome of the independent plan approval procedure and any potential lawsuits against the planned approval decision," the Berlin Ministry of Transport stated. Furthermore, it was noted: "Possible ways to expedite construction will be examined once the building rights have become legally binding."
The plan approval decision by the city of Hamburg is expected to be made in mid-2026. Initially, the project company Deges had planned to begin construction as early as 2025.
"Peter Tschentscher, as Mayor of Hamburg, cannot simply accept years of delays due to lengthy planning procedures and new lawsuits. He must finally take all necessary steps to ensure that the project is not completed only at the end of this decade," Ploß stated.
The Hamburg Senate, as a part of the traffic light government in Berlin, is under scrutiny for not prioritizing necessary infrastructure projects, particularly the replacement of the Norder- and Süderelb bridges on the A1. Ploß, a member of the Hamburg CDU in the Bundestag and spokesman for the Union in the transport committee, is advocating for a speedier planning and construction process of these critical projects.
