Construction site in Neumünster: Bridge over Bullenbek is being renovated!

Construction site in Neumünster: Bridge over Bullenbek is being renovated!

From mid-October 2025 there will be major traffic disruptions in the region between Neumünster-Faldera and Ehndorf. The Schleswig-Holstein State Road Construction and Transport Agency (LBV.SH) has announced repair work on the bridge over the Bullenbek, which dates back to 1968. This measure is part of an overarching plan to modernize bridges that is becoming increasingly important throughout Germany. The country not only has around 40,300 bridges, some of which are in need of renovation, but also has to cope with increasing heavy traffic, as the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport explains and the [Bundesrechnungshof](https://www.bundesrechnungshof.de/SharedDocs/Press Releases/DE/2025/brueckenmodernisierung.html) is critically questioned.

The construction work on Kreisstraße 37, between Ehndorf and Neumünster, is scheduled for the period from October 13th to November 28th, 2025. During these seven weeks, half of the road will be closed. To ensure that traffic can continue to flow, a mobile traffic light will be set up with a maximum speed of 50 km/h in the construction area. The pedestrian and cycle path will be closed throughout construction, but an alternative overpass will be available for pedestrians and cyclists.

Details about the work

The repair work includes selective concrete repair work below the bridge, securing the supply lines, replacing the scraper boards and renewing the surface protection system. In addition, asphalt work on the sidewalks and cycle paths is planned. The total costs of these measures amount to more than 100,000 euros, which will be borne by the Rendsburg-Eckernförde district. This is in line with the recommendations of the Federal Audit Office to strengthen financing for bridge modernization.

There is a clear trend in Germany: most bridges were built between 1960 and 1985, and the increasing requirements for load-bearing capacity and traffic safety require extensive maintenance and modernization measures. A special bridge modernization program is intended to accelerate these necessary measures, as the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport emphasizes.

Challenges in modernization

Despite the ongoing efforts, there are still some stumbling blocks: The Federal Audit Office criticizes the slow progress in modernizing many bridges on motorways and federal highways. Only 40% of the partial structures planned by the end of 2024 have been modernized so far, while the number of completed projects is declining. In order to achieve the goal by 2032, 590 partial structures would have to be renewed every year, which is considered unrealistic. The backlog is obvious and the need for a clear modernization program is becoming increasingly urgent.

The bridge over the Bullenbek is therefore not just a regional construction project, but part of a larger picture. A picture that is characterized by the modernization of the infrastructure. Whether and how the nationwide challenges can be overcome remains to be seen, but the plans are already in full swing.