The leading association of the German construction industry has warned the federal government that continued cuts to motorway funding could result in bridge closures or even a collapse.

Das Deutsche Baugwerbe, which represents 35,000 construction companies in Germany, has issued a statement warning of the possibility of fatal bridge collapses and closures that will cause traffic chaos and have far-reaching economic effects.

It reminds the federal government of a promise made two years ago to carry out 400 bridge construction projects a year to clear a renovations backlog.

It describes how increasing numbers of tenders have been cancelled against a cut to the autobahn budget of 20 percent. Furthermore, it says, an overview by BMDV (the German ministry for digital affairs and transport) indicates that more than 1,000 of the nation’s autobahn bridges are in an “inadequate structural condition”.

Not only that, says Das Deutsche Baugwerbe, but many construction companies are facing hardship because they increased capacity in anticipation of federal government orders that never came.