Cost explosion for Franconian Forest bridges: The federal government is sounding the alarm!

Cost explosion for Franconian Forest bridges: The federal government is sounding the alarm!

Things are currently going haywire in the Franconian Forest Nature Park. The two planned suspension bridges, which are intended to significantly increase the enjoyment of the landscape for pedestrians, not only cause enthusiasm, but also a lot of controversy. The Höllental Bridge, which is set to be the longest of its kind at 1,030 meters, and the Lohbachtal Bridge at 389 meters have become real cost traps. Originally the entire project was expected to cost 12 million euros, but the bill is now estimated at over 42 million euros - an increase of more than three times! This causes great excitement in the region and ensures that the project is cited as an example of tax waste in the new Black Book of the Taxpayers' Association.

The planned bridges are to lead from Kesselfels over the Selbitztal to the Höllental terrace in Eichenstein and from Schwedenstein over the Lohbachtal to Lichtenberg. Both bridges can be reached from the visitor center at the swimming lake and promise breathtaking views. Despite the financial turbulence, the Hof district is showing determination and sticking to the project. “We have a good hand for tourism in the region,” says a spokesman for the district office, pointing out the great benefit that the bridges could have for the region. The project could attract many tourists to the area and thus help the local economy, as the Frankenpost reports.

Criticism and high costs

However, the Taxpayers' Association has concerns that cannot be ignored. They call on the Hof district to handle the financial risk carefully. In a statement, the continued increase in costs is classified as worrying and the risk of further waste of taxpayers' money is raised. The reasons for the enormous increase in costs are diverse: In addition to nature conservation and monument protection requirements, external factors such as generally rising construction prices are also fueling the problem. Although the Taxpayers' Association recognizes that geopolitical crises drive up costs, it makes it clear that taxpayers ultimately have to bear the additional costs, as n-tv explains in detail.

The construction work encounters additional complications. A regulatory review process by the Federal Nature Conservation Agency could disrupt the schedule. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027 and the bridges will be inaugurated in 2029. There is still a lot of work to be done before the development plan is dry - the decision on the development plan was only made on July 24, 2024. It remains to be seen how the situation will develop and whether the Hof district will be able to access the hoped-for state funding of 70 percent of the eligible costs from the RÖFE pot of the Free State of Bavaria.

Overall, it is clear that the Franconian Forest Bridges project is not only an architectural highlight, but also a financial touchstone for the region. The coming years will be crucial in making the dream of these beautiful suspension bridges come true - and without placing an unnecessary burden on tax resources.