Four years after the 2021 flood in the Ahrtal, the reconstruction of the railway track is still not complete. According to the ARD news program Tagesschau, the tunnel works are entering the decisive phase, but the project is still far from being finished.
Meanwhile, the collapse of the Carolabrücke in Dresden in September last year has not led to significant progress. The planned demolition of the old bridge has been delayed due to the discovery of unexploded World War II ordnance and a new bridge is only planned to be built as early as 2027.
The ongoing lack of progress in the reconstruction of the Ahrtal railway track and the delayed demolition and rebuilding of the Carolabrücke in Dresden raise questions about the state of Germany’s infrastructure and the effectiveness of its disaster response.
The flood in the Ahrtal in 2021 led to the deaths of at least 135 people and the investigation into the disaster has been discontinued by the Koblenz prosecutor’s office. The families of the victims are calling for the investigation to be reopened.
Germany’s plans to increase its military spending and prepare for potential conflicts with Russia and the United States, in contrast to the ongoing infrastructure and disaster response issues, highlight the disconnect between the country’s foreign and domestic policies.