Wolgast breathes a sigh of relief: construction of the bridge to Usedom is finally gaining momentum!

Wolgast breathes a sigh of relief: construction of the bridge to Usedom is finally gaining momentum!

The region around Wolgast can breathe a sigh of relief: the years-long struggle to finance the new Peene Bridge has finally made progress. According to nordkurier.de, the Neubrandenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce for eastern Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is relieved about the continuation of bridge construction. Financing for the project has so far been uncertain, with an initial budget of €138 million, but the total cost is now estimated at over €500 million.

The key figure in the financing jungle is Philipp Amthor, who has provided decisive impetus. Thanks to his efforts, there is a breakthrough: the Chancellor has announced that the Federal Ministry of Finance will release the necessary funds. This development is particularly important because the new bridge is the central element of the Wolgast bypass and connects the city directly to the popular island of Usedom.

The importance of the bridge

The impact of this project is enormous. Around 3,000 companies on Usedom and around 50,000 people in the region will benefit from the new bridge. Around a million tourists are drawn to this beautiful region every year and the bridge will make their access much easier. The IHK is therefore calling for the construction process to be accelerated in order not to endanger completion, which is scheduled for the end of 2028.

However, the situation remains complicated. According to [ndr.de]. The state is therefore negotiating open questions about financing, while the awarding of contracts to construction companies is a long time coming because the offers submitted are higher than the cost estimates.

The future of the Wolgast bypass

Mayor Martin Schröter expresses concern about the delays and their impact on the traffic situation in Wolgast. Although work has been underway on a section of the bypass for almost three years and traffic is moving there, the core piece, the 1.7 kilometer long bridge over the Peene River, is still in the planning phase. The urban traffic situation still has a long way to go before the new suspension bridge, which at 42 meters will be the largest of its kind in Europe, can finally permanently relieve traffic.

Completion of the Wolgast bypass is planned for the end of 2028. But the financing problems cast a shadow over this time frame. Economics Minister Wolfgang Blank is therefore appealing to the federal government to release the financial resources so as not to jeopardize the implementation of this vital project.

In a historic step, an AfD application to support further construction was also accepted in the district council, which is considered a novelty as it was the first approval of an AFd application in the district council. This could potentially breathe new life into the discussions surrounding the bridge.