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Construction: New Peene Bridge Expected to be Usable by End of 2029
🇩🇪 Germany /Economy & Trade

Construction: New Peene Bridge Expected to be Usable by End of 2029

From Die Zeit · (18m ago) German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The new Peene Bridge in Wolgast, Germany, is planned to be open for traffic by the end of 2029.
  • The bridge is part of a larger bypass project intended to relieve traffic congestion in Wolgast, especially during summer.
  • The project has faced multiple delays, with an initial completion target of 2026, and the estimated cost has risen significantly.

The long-awaited new Peene Bridge in Wolgast is finally on the horizon, with authorities now targeting the end of 2029 for its completion and opening to traffic. This crucial infrastructure project, which includes the Ortsumgehung Wolgast (Wolgast bypass), aims to significantly alleviate the chronic traffic congestion that plagues the town, particularly during the peak summer tourist season. The existing bridge has been a bottleneck for years, impacting residents and hindering the flow of traffic heading to the popular island of Usedom.

Motorists should be able to use the planned new Peene Bridge in Wolgast at the end of 2029.

— State Office for Road Construction and TransportOfficial statement regarding the projected completion date of the new Peene Bridge.

This project has been a saga of delays and escalating costs. Originally slated for completion in 2026, the timeline has been pushed back multiple times. The latest estimates place the cost of the new bridge alone at 421 million euros, with the total cost for the entire bypass project reaching approximately 500 million euros. These figures represent a substantial increase from initial projections, a common theme in large-scale German infrastructure projects, which often face unforeseen challenges and rising material and labor costs.

The bypass is intended to relieve the residents of Wolgast from the through traffic to the holiday island of Usedom.

— State Office for Road Construction and TransportExplanation of the primary purpose of the Wolgast bypass project.

The construction is now moving forward, with preparatory drilling work having commenced. A bidding consortium led by the Swiss construction company Implenia is responsible for the build. While the focus is on the new bridge, the fate of the existing Peenebrücke remains unaddressed in the latest announcements, leaving a question mark for local residents and transport planners. The successful completion of this bypass is vital for improving the quality of life for Wolgast's residents and ensuring smoother transit for the countless visitors flocking to Usedom each year.

The new bridge will cost 421 million euros. The total costs of the bypass are estimated at around 500 million euros.

— State Office for Road Construction and TransportFinancial details provided by the authority regarding the project's cost.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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