Mega bridge to Usedom: 500 million euros are in danger of failing!

Mega bridge to Usedom: 500 million euros are in danger of failing!

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, an important transport infrastructure project is threatening to falter. The construction of the new bridge to the Baltic Sea island of Usedom, a project that is considered one of the largest road construction projects in the region, is currently facing financial hurdles. According to Nordkurier, the federal government lacks the necessary funds to implement it. Internal documents indicate that “further financing of the Wolgast bypass is currently not secured,” and the state’s Ministry of Transport also confirms this uncertainty.

Originally calculated at 100 million euros, the total costs of the project could now rise to over 500 million euros. The state government is therefore urgently appealing to Berlin to provide the necessary financial resources. Although Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) has spoken out in favor of implementing projects that are ready for construction, it remains unclear whether this political pressure will be enough to save the bridge and the associated bypass.

Details about the project

The bridge will cross the Peene and is planned to be 1.4 kilometers long. Its impressive pylons will be 70 meters high, with the distance between the lower edge of the bridge and the water being 42 meters. In addition, the total length of the new bypass is estimated to be around 6.8 kilometers - a measure that is already partially under construction. Currently, road users and tourists have to drive over a bascule bridge to Usedom, which often ends in traffic jams, especially during the high season.

The procurement process for the construction of the bridge is already underway, with a planned award for the end of November 2025. This means that the Wolgast bypass is now expected to be completed in 2028, a year later than originally planned. The need for this bypass is particularly obvious in the summer months, when through traffic places a heavy burden on the town of Wolgast.

A look at the challenges

But it's not just the bridge that's worrying. The construction of the Dargun bypass is also struggling with financing problems, and at the moment “no construction approval can be granted” for both projects. These complications are in the context of the extensive infrastructure measures in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, which, according to Wirtschaft MV, are intended to improve the accessibility of rural regions and promote economic development. The Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan 2030 envisages expansion and new construction projects in many places, but financing gaps appear to jeopardize implementation.

The problem is accompanied by concerns about environmental protection and the economic viability of the projects. Nature conservation associations such as NABU have long been expressing concerns about possible interventions in landscape and nature reserves. The shortage of skilled workers also represents a major challenge for the realization of large-scale projects, whereby dedicated skilled workers are required to put the ambitious plans into practice.

Despite these difficulties, there remains hope that improving the infrastructure can provide positive impetus for both tourism and freight transport. It remains to be seen how the situation will develop in the coming weeks. Quick political intervention could be crucial to securing the future of the bridge and the associated bypass roads.