Rheingau-Taunus is investing 20.5 million in dilapidated roads by 2035!

Rheingau-Taunus is investing 20.5 million in dilapidated roads by 2035!

Let's move on to an issue that affects us all: the renovation of roads and bridges. The Rheingau-Taunus district administration has published a new priority list with 17 renovation measures that are to be implemented by 2035. The investment costs are estimated at 20.5 million euros. These measures were carefully coordinated with the district's cities and municipalities, so that the municipalities affected by the renovations gave the green light. The list includes, among other things, the renovation of the Burg-Hohenstein through town and several important road connections such as the K630 between Geisenheim and Marienthal and the K629 between Wollmerschied and the L3397. The administration has shown a good hand, as the warnings regarding the infrastructure have already been loud on several occasions.

But was that just a drop in the ocean? As a current study by the German Institute for Urban Studies (Difu), which was carried out on behalf of the ADAC and other associations, shows, the investment requirement for maintaining and expanding rail and road infrastructure by 2030 is alarmingly high. In total, this amounts to over 372 billion euros! Almost every second road bridge and every third street in German municipalities has major defects. In Rheingau-Taunus the plan paper may be supported by a concrete list, but the state of many transport infrastructures in Germany is really worrying, as tagesschau.de reports.

The challenges in rural areas

For many communities, it is a constant challenge to manage maintenance work. “We cannot manage the investments alone,” VDV Managing Director Oliver Wolff is quoted as saying. The need for an attractive infrastructure for a possible increase in passengers, especially in local public transport, is undisputed. According to Wolff, the current funding could no longer be sufficient and he is calling for an increase in funding. Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing also recently announced that he would increase funding for bridge renovation to 2.5 billion euros per year by 2026. However, there is often a lack of financial resources to be able to act sustainably.

The ADAC study makes it clear how urgent the situation is. Of over 714,000 kilometers of roads in Germany, a third are in inadequate condition. Ultimately, it is not just numbers that call us to action, but also the safety and quality of life that depends on a functioning transport infrastructure.

A step in the right direction

Given the brilliant list of planned renovation measures in Rheingau-Taunus, one could look to 2035 with optimism, even if the challenges remain great. With the support of the state government and careful planning, the project in Rheingau-Taunus could be the beginning of a turnaround in renovation policy. Finally, the administration's communication always mentions a possible adjustment of the plans if the budget situation improves - a signal that flexibility and adaptability are required in order to meet the growing need for restructuring.

Overall, both the current steps in Rheingau-Taunus and the nationwide challenges are clear indications that now is the time to set the course for a sustainable transport infrastructure. Let's be surprised at what the future brings!