Criticizes federal government for multi-billion dollar deficit in highway funding
In a recent statement, Hendrik Wüst, the Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia, has expressed concern over a multi-billion euro deficit in long-planned highway projects. This deficit, according to Wüst, is threatening delays in many projects for the expansion or new construction of highways and federal roads.
The deficit, announced by the Federal Ministry of Transport, amounts to around 15 billion euros for federal highways from 2026 to 2029. The strong increase in construction prices in recent years is cited as a particular reason for this deficit.
The debate revolves around the "Financing and Implementation Plan" 2025-2029 of the Federal Highway Company, which lists 74 planning projects for the expansion and new construction of highways. However, the plan does not specify how the financing for these projects will be secured.
Wüst calls for a "quick, fundamental correction of the plans" and finds the planned shifts in the federal budget incomprehensible, unmediated, and counterproductive. Abandoning these projects after years of planning would be a waste of taxpayers' money and cause a new investment backlog, Wüst says.
The unclear financing of these projects threatens to cause delays and potential abandonment of the projects. Wüst emphasises that abandoning these projects would be a severe blow to Germany's industrial location, and the people in Germany have the expectation that more, not less, will be built through the special fund.
The exact names of the 74 planned motorway and federal road projects in North Rhine-Westphalia endangered by the unclear financing plan of the Federal Autobahn Service for 2025-2029 are not specified in the available search results. The plan also does not explicitly state the potential impact on Germany's industrial location or the expectation of the people in Germany for more infrastructure projects.
This deficit in long-planned highway projects is a continuation of the ongoing debate and serves as a reminder of the importance of proper financial planning and execution for infrastructure projects. The Federal Highway Company's plan covers the period 2025-2029, and it is hoped that a resolution to the financing issue will be found to ensure the timely completion of these crucial projects.
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