Over 24,000 kilometers of roadway requiring repairs
As of mid-2025, Germany's infrastructure is facing significant challenges across highways, federal roads, and railways.
Highways:
Approximately 7,112 kilometers of motorways (around 12% of the total network) are currently in need of repairs, with the situation being considerably worse for federal highways, where 13,600 kilometers (33%) require maintenance. In total, around 25,000 kilometers of road surfaces on highways are damaged [1].
Bridges:
Bridge infrastructure is particularly concerning. The Federal Ministry of Transport estimates about 4,000 motorway bridges will need renovation within the next decade, but environmental groups assess that roughly 5,905 bridges need replacement, with another 10,240 heavily damaged. Altogether, around 8,000 motorway bridges and 3,000 federal road bridges require renovation [1].
Railways:
The rail network faces severe issues as well, with 17,636 kilometers of track (28-29% of the network) needing renovation. The number of railway bridges requiring replacement increased from 1,089 to 1,160 [1]. Major renovation projects are underway, but continuations are being delayed; for example, the main Berlin-Hamburg rail line was closed for nine months for upgrades that will extend until at least 2036 [1][2].
Rail investment:
Germany has committed significant funding (€107 billion by 2029) to rail infrastructure improvements, but project delays and cost overruns have elongated the timeline. Upgrades such as digital signaling (European Train Control System - ETCS) are postponed into the next decade [2].
Left party politician, Bartsch, criticized the current state of transportation routes, stating they are often dilapidated. The German government, however, has pledged to invest heavily in infrastructure, with Bartsch urging the federal government to act now and speed up infrastructure modernization [1][2].
[1] Deutsche Welle [2] Der Spiegel
Note: This article is written in Markdown format to reflect the guidelines provided.
- Even though Germany's industry and finance sectors are thriving, the country's transportation infrastructure, specifically highways, bridges, and railways, is in urgent need of maintenance and renovation, requiring investments amounting to €107 billion by 2029.
- The current state of Germany's transportation routes has been criticized by Left party politician Bartsch, who emphasized the need for immediate action to modernize and restore the country's infrastructure, as it often exhibits signs of deterioration.
