The federal government plans to reduce the funding allocated to Autobahn GmbH, the company responsible for constructing and operating highways, by 20 percent next year, from 6.29 billion euros to 4.99 billion euros. The expenditure cuts will continue in the following years: in 2026 and 2027, a reduction of one billion euros, and in 2028, a further reduction of 378 million euros will affect the budgetary resources for highway maintenance and expansion.
Transport Minister Volker Wissing emphasized that "roads are our most important mode of transport," and thus their financing must be adequately secured. Although the budget preparation is still ongoing, Wissing's goal is for Autobahn GmbH to receive the necessary investment funds for 2025 in full, despite his dispute with FDP party leader and Finance Minister Christian Lindner. According to a statement from the transport ministry, due to the current budgetary situation and the necessary savings, not all infrastructure investment needs can be met. Although the ministry's plans include record-level investments, the investment needs now exceed the available financial framework due to the neglect of transport infrastructure by previous governments. The aim is to increase investments within the budget, including for highways and major roads. A law adopted in mid-July allows for the largest railway network renovation and modernization program. In light of significant cutbacks, Autobahn GmbH reported a demand for 4.1 billion euros less than the financial resources planned for the current four-year period, with particular emphasis on necessary bridge reconstructions.
According to Peter Hübner, president of the German Construction Industry Federation, "the process of decay of Germany's roads and bridges continues," as maintenance and investment have been underfunded for decades. Florian Müller, a CDU politician, believes that cutting funding for Autobahn GmbH is like setting fire in a dry forest. Autobahn GmbH was already underfunded, and the new cutbacks would mean the end for many projects. Transport Minister Wissing should state which projects are to be discontinued. Christian Bernreiter (CSU), Bavarian Minister for Transport, argues that the planned cutbacks for Autobahn GmbH would significantly impact the urgent shortcomings in the road network and bridge renovations. The German automobile club (ADAC) also criticizes the planned reductions, as many highways and bridges are already in poor condition, and the failure of a bridge could have severe consequences.
Benjamin Stephan, a transport expert from Greenpeace, welcomed the savings and urged Wissing to allocate the funds for renovations instead, halting new construction projects. Meanwhile, the green light was given to the largest modernization program for the German railway network in recent decades. In mid-June, a law was adopted regulating the cost distribution between the federal and state governments for the development of the federal rail network. Deutsche Bahn plans to fully renovate 40 key railway lines by 2030, through longer closures rather than continuous operation. Under the new law, the costs for substitute rail solutions will be jointly borne by the states, the federal government, and Deutsche Bahn.
According to the Pro-Rail Alliance, this is good news for passengers, as it ensures comprehensive transportation substitution. The law also contributes to the costs of modernizing infrastructure and vehicles as part of digitization, with the federal government supporting the renovation of station buildings, which are now part of the railway infrastructure. The law makes it clear that the renovation of high-capacity corridors must not come at the expense of the rest of the railway network, though it does not provide compensation for rail freight operators during renovations, which represents a competitive disadvantage compared to road freight transport.
