Two municipalities are demanding bridge: ferry Tanja has been standing silent for 50 days!

Two municipalities are demanding bridge: ferry Tanja has been standing silent for 50 days!

Darchau, Deutschland - in Darchau and Neu Darchau it has been going uncomfortable for almost two months. The ferry "Tanja" has been standing still for 50 days and causes great resentment among commuters, students and families in the region. For many, driving across the Elbe was an everyday routine, but now they have to accept longer paths to achieve their goals. Many residents are upset because the city is not pleased with the current situation. Hundreds of people gathered around the ferry pier to demonstrate the connections to the construction of a bridge that is seen as a long -term solution. The estimated costs for such a building are around 100 million euros. Despite the urgent argument, the state government remains rather hesitant in the debate about the bridge, which also fuels the minds of those affected. The demonstrators not only demand the connection, but also future -capable ferry concepts that work reliably even at low water.

The current situation is particularly precarious for some families. Just like the Kramer family from Amt Neuhaus, which now has to put a proud 60 kilometers instead of 22 kilometers to school. The children have to get up at 5 a.m. to get to the Bleckede high school in time - a very nice detour that extends the travel time of 40 minutes to an hour and a half. The irregular failures of the ferry are a constant risk factor for this family and many others, and a bridge could help. The topic of bridge construction has been part of the discussion in the region for three decades, and the majority of citizens from Amt Neuhaus speaks out clearly for finally making nails with their heads.

political backing and resistance

The discussion about the bridge is also accompanied by political disagreements. The district of Lüchow-Dannenberg once driven the construction of the bridge, but is now refraining from further planning and instead calls for a bypass. Lüneburg District Administrator Jens Böther sees the decision of the district council as a political maneuver, which is not final. The uncertainty about the progress of the plans leads to even more resentment among the citizens who feel treated unfairly. Climate change with its more frequent droughts and heavy rain events in northern Germany also highlights the need to create a reliable transport connection.

In a larger context, it can be seen that public expenses for the construction of roads, bridges and tunnels in Germany were recently significantly raised - in 2020 even 40.2 % compared to 2011. Constructions such as streets and bridges are the focus of state expenditure, but it remains unclear when and whether the plans for the bridge between Neu Danchau and Office are finally taken seriously. The figures from the Federal Statistical Office showed that the bridge investments are continuously increasing and the construction prices have been less severely increased in the same period.

A rethinking in traffic planning is urgently needed, commuters and students in the region do not want to continue to rely on unsafe and unreliable ferry connections. The pressure will increase, and the new protests could finally give the municipality and regional politics the decisive impetus to advance road construction and offer the residents a more reliable bridge solution.