According to the Ministry of Transport, 44 bridge replacement projects have been completed in North Rhine-Westphalia so far. (Photo: © frankwohlfeil/123RF.com)

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More money for renovation initiative

18 May 2026

North Rhine-Westphalia is investing more money in its infrastructure plan. This year, an additional 171 million euros from the federal government's special fund will be allocated to renovation projects.

Since the end of 2023, North Rhine-Westphalia has been implementing a comprehensive modernization program for its road infrastructure. With the "North Rhine-Westphalia Plan for Good Infrastructure," the state government aims to gradually reduce the decades-long backlog of repairs to roads, bridges, and tunnels, and to ensure the long-term efficiency of the infrastructure.

Additional funds are now to be allocated to the initiative. North Rhine-Westphalia plans to invest €3,5 billion by 2036. The state intends to use this money for the renovation of roads, cycle paths, bridges, and tunnels on state and municipal roads. An additional €171 million will be provided this year from the federal government's special fund for infrastructure and climate neutrality. This brings the total funding for 2026 to €500 million.

Faster processing of the renovation backlog

"What has been neglected for decades can now be tackled more quickly. With the funds from the special fund, we can complete more projects per year, prioritize others, and work through the backlog of repairs faster. This means more construction sites, but also faster progress," says Transport Minister Oliver Krischer (Greens).

By 2033, the state government aims to renovate or replace approximately 400 bridges with new structures. To achieve this goal, accelerated construction methods will be increasingly used to shorten planning and construction times. Since the initiative began, according to the Ministry of Transport, around 380 kilometers of state roads and 196 kilometers of federal highways in North Rhine-Westphalia have been renovated. In addition, 44 bridge replacement projects have been completed.