German Greens back postponing A3 expansion to focus on bridge repairs

The parliamentary group of Bündnis 90/Die Grünen in Solingen welcomed the Autobahn GmbH’s decision to delay the planned eight‑lane widening of the A3 between Leverkusen and Hilden. The Greens argue that, given limited planning and construction capacity, priority should shift to the refurbishment or replacement of 37 bridges along the corridor to keep the highway reliably functional. They also criticised the €500 million expansion as financially and environmentally unsound, calling for stronger investment in rail passenger transport and a reorientation of federal transport planning toward actual maintenance needs.

Green party spokesperson Finn Grimsehl‑Schmitz emphasized that preserving existing infrastructure is essential for the Solingen region’s economy, and regional Green leader Manfred Krause called the postponement an opportunity to redirect funds toward rail upgrades in the Bergisches Land.