The outcome of the vote was expected in the regional council. The CDU, SPD, FDP and AfD voted by 29 votes in favor of the resolution to urgently move forward with the construction of the Rhine lock between Wesseling or one of the Bornheimer Rhein cities on the left bank of the Rhine and Niederkassel on the right. bank of the Rhine River. The Greens and Left/Volt together had twelve votes against. The opposition proposal by the Greens and Linke/Volt to halt the construction project immediately was rejected with a reverse vote.
However, this vote has no direct impact on the implementation of the Rhine crossing. This will be decided by the new federal government. There is no clear position in their alliance agreement on the project that is supposed to fill motorways and state roads around Bonn and Cologne.
Benefits and costs are checked
Twelve variables are currently being examined for their benefits, costs, and environmental and social compatibility. In the Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan, the Rhine Crossing is currently listed as “urgent need”, that is, it is given the highest priority. The ambitious target is completion by 2030.
Marcus Kitz, the CDU’s man in Niederkassel, spoke clearly in the regional council about the Rhine crossing in order to reduce traffic jams in the area. However, Kitz, who faces many opponents of the project in Niederkassel, supports the tunnel solution. In Bornheim and Niederkassel, all legal options against the bridge layout will be used.
The Greens argued that building a new bridge would not solve the area’s traffic problems. On the contrary: it attracts more traffic.
