Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens) questions the forecast of a strong increase in freight traffic on the road. “I’m skeptical that all the forecast needs will materialize,” Lemke told the news portal t-online. Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) presented his forecast on Friday. Against this background, he reiterated his demand for faster construction of motorways as well.
“It has to be reacted to where there is a specific need,” said Lemke. She justified her skepticism: “For many years, when expanding the Elbe, one argued that there was a need that never even came to be.”
Lemke: “What’s already rolling, keep it rolling”
First and foremost, the existing road network must be upgraded, emphasized the minister. This mainly affects hundreds of bridges in need of renovation. “We have to concentrate on that in order to keep at least what is already rolling.”
According to the forecast commissioned by the Ministry of Transport, freight traffic will increase by almost half by 2051 compared to 2019. Growth of 54 percent is expected for road, and freight traffic by rail will increase by a third.
Wissing said: “We need an efficient and climate-neutral road transport mode.” Bottlenecks that caused traffic jams would have to be eliminated. Wissing not only wants to have bridges built faster, but also motorways – but the Greens reject that. In view of the planned climate protection goals, they insist on priority for rail.
