Funding gaps for planned federal highways in Saxony

Several new construction projects for federal highways in Saxony are facing delays due to a lack of funding from the federal government. According to the Federal Ministry of Transport, based on the current financial plans, no construction permits can be issued for eight projects in the Free State - although a final building permit has already been issued or is expected.

The list includes new construction sections on the B107 east of Chemnitz to relieve the city center of through traffic and on the B178, where a connection between the three-country corner of Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic and the A4 is to be built. Unlike in other federal states, no freeway projects are affected in Saxony.

Federal deficit of 15 billion euros

The Federal Ministry of Transport, led by CDU Minister Patrick Schnieder, had announced that the deficit for federal trunk roads for the period 2026 to 2029 would be around 15 billion euros. This threatens to delay many projects for the expansion or new construction of freeways and federal highways. State Secretary Stefan Schnorr emphasized that the issue is that planned construction measures cannot be started or contracts cannot be awarded - but it is not about stopping construction.

A shortfall of 206 million euros for renovation and maintenance

The federal funds budgeted for the maintenance and renovation of existing federal roads in the current legislative period up to 2029 are also insufficient. Nationwide, more than 40 percent of the required funds are missing, in Saxony this amounts to 206 million euros for the next four years.

Saxon MP Paula Piechotta (Greens) accused Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) and Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) of having learned nothing from the collapse of Dresden's Carola Bridge just over a year ago. "The Ministry of Transport should use all its strength in the battle with Klingbeil to ensure that no money is saved on the renovation and maintenance of roads in Saxony and nationwide and that the expansion and new construction of railways, which is also massively underfunded, finally goes ahead," she said in a statement. If the federal government does not change course, sudden road and rail closures are inevitable.