The association representing the German construction industry has issued a scorching commentary on the country’s renovation backlog, calling on local authorities to heed the lessons of the Carola Bridge failure in September 2024 (link opens in new tab).
In a press conference, the president of Hauptverband der Deutschen Bauindustrie (HDB), which represents the construction industry, slammed the federal government for using special funds to consolidate budgets. He also criticised the country’s slow, complicated building process.
Also at the press conference were representatives of the raw materials industry.
The organisations together called on the federal government to support reliable long-term financing for infrastructure projects and to secure the supply of construction materials. They also called for protections for skilled construction workers from abroad.
Carola Bridge after the collapse in 2024. Credit: City of Dresden
Carola Bridge in Dresden collapsed as a result of tendon failure. An investigation found that the city’s inspection regime could not have reliably predicted the failure.
Earlier this month, the city of Dresden invited tenders for designs of the new bridge. It will commission four designs and compare the different planning approaches.