Berlin's crumbling bridges and rail networks demand urgent repairs

Berlin's Crumbling Infrastructure: Dozens of Bridges in Urgent Need of Repair

Many bridges in the German capital are in dire need of renovation, with those operated by Deutsche Bahn in Berlin showing particularly severe deficiencies, according to the federal government.

A significant portion of the city's transport infrastructure is in critical condition, as revealed in the government's response to a parliamentary inquiry by the Bundestag faction of Alliance 90/The Greens. Of the 1,136 bridges owned by DB InfraGO, 86 have been classified in the worst possible condition category—deemed "unsatisfactory"—based on an assessment by the Federal Railway Authority.

Other infrastructure operators are also grappling with shortcomings. Six of the 61 bridges managed by the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration were rated "inadequate," while 13 of the 261 bridges under Autobahn GmbH's responsibility exhibit similar flaws. Two structures—including the Friedenauer Brücke—are even classified as "unsatisfactory."

The figures provide a snapshot of the state of federally owned transport infrastructure in Berlin, underscoring the pressing need for repairs, particularly within the rail network.