Millions in dispute over Leverkusen Rhine Bridge contract termination

A legal battle involving hundreds of millions of euros is ongoing between the German federal government and a construction company over the termination of a contract for the new Leverkusen Rhine Bridge. The dispute stems from the contract's termination in 2020, over six years ago.

The Federal Republic of Germany is seeking over 350 million euros in damages at the Cologne Regional Court. The construction company, identified in committee discussions as Porr, is countersuing for more than 200 million euros, claiming compensation for work completed and services that could not be rendered due to the contract's cancellation. The court has scheduled a conciliation hearing and a trial for October 16 to address the fundamental claims.

Lawmakers are concerned about the escalating costs, with FDP member Christof Rasche estimating potential damages, including interest, could reach up to 1 billion euros. He questioned whether a strategy had been developed to manage the situation, noting that the contract termination was initiated by the state-owned road construction company, Straßen.NRW.

North Rhine-Westphalia's Transport Minister Oliver Krischer, testifying before a parliamentary committee, stated that he anticipates no repercussions for the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, regardless of the court's decision. "This concerns the federal government," Krischer asserted, indicating that the primary responsibility lies with federal authorities, not the state.

The court case is extensive, with the court file containing over 20,000 pages. The Autobahn GmbH des Bundes has been responsible for the planning, construction, and operation of federal highways since 2021.

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This concerns the federal government.