Bridge to nowhere and bicycle barometer end up in the black book

A bridge to nowhere and a counting system for cyclists have made it into the nationwide black book of the Taxpayers' Association. The bridge in Radeburg was built as part of a new highway connection for 900,000 euros, then the state ran out of money and the structure stands uselessly in the landscape, according to the taxpayers' association.

It is forbidden to walk on it, and weeds are already growing on the mounds of rubble to the left and right. Public construction projects should only be started if it is clear that they make sense and the necessary money is available in the budget, according to the black book.

The bridge is a necessary part of a sensible overall project, the implementation of which is still planned, the State Office for Road Construction and Transport said in response to an inquiry. The Free State intends to implement the project in full as soon as the budgetary requirements are met.

Black book: No plus for bicycle safety

The taxpayers' association lists a bicycle counting system in Dresden as the second project. Cyclists have been counted by two so-called bicycle barometers in the state capital since April 2025. According to the Black Book, the bicycle barometers are not a real plus for bicycle safety or infrastructure, but the costs are considerable. Each bicycle barometer costs 45,000 euros, of which the city of Dresden pays around 16,000 euros, with the rest being financed by federal funds.

The taxpayers' association criticizes the fact that the barometers serve a purely representative purpose and not traffic control or safety. The investment is unnecessary and expensive, as the information could have been obtained more cheaply with existing technologies.

The barometer is part of a more comprehensive approach to improving the data basis in the traffic sector and provides valuable information for traffic planning, the city announced. The measure is cost-effective compared to classic infrastructure projects, achieves a high level of public visibility and strengthens the perception of cycling in urban society.