The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

SPIEGEL survey: Germans say yes to more autobahns

2023-01-15T08:51:32.704Z


The question divides the traffic light coalition: Should expressways be built faster? No, say the Greens, the FDP is for it. The majority would also like that – but another mode of transport is more popular.


Enlarge image

In the middle of the countryside: Autobahn near Berlin

Photo: Sven Hagolani / Getty Images/fStop

Regardless of the climate crisis or the traffic turnaround, a clear majority of Germans would like the construction of new autobahns to progress more quickly.

At least that's the result of a survey conducted by the opinion research institute Civey on behalf of SPIEGEL: 46 percent of those questioned answered in the affirmative when asked whether the federal government's goal of accelerating infrastructure projects should also include the construction of new motorways, "definitely".

A further eight percent chose “rather yes”.

On the other hand, only 23 percent said “no, definitely not” and 13 percent “rather no”.

Ten percent said they were undecided.

Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) can thus refer to the people's voice in one of many controversial issues within the traffic light coalition.

A majority in favor of autobahns was found in the representative survey conducted from January 10th to 12th in almost all age, professional and educational groups across the regions.

Only the students clearly rejected the autobahn turbo with 61 to 38 percent.

However, the answer varies depending on the supporters of the parties - and that reflects the traffic light conflict.

Respondents who intend to vote for the AfD, CDU/CSU or FDP overwhelmingly answered yes, while those with sympathy for the Greens or the Left clearly spoke out against it.

The SPD voters were equally torn by 44 percent each - as was the federal leadership of the Chancellor's Party, which could decide in the conflict.

Last weekend, the party leadership called for an "infrastructure boost", according to SPD leader Lars Klingbeil, "also in the area of ​​cars and trucks" - there was "no time for this petty dispute".

In contrast, Secretary General Kevin Kühnert intervened this week, according to the “Tagesspiegel”: Not everything that is in the federal transport route plan has to be implemented.

In Berlin, for example, the A100 inner-city ring road, which is currently being extended, is particularly controversial.

The Federal Ministry of Transport is already planning a further construction phase, although the SPD-led Senate of the city rejects the billion-euro project.

At first glance, the results of the SPIEGEL survey contradict another survey that was published on Thursday: According to a survey commissioned by Greenpeace by the opinion research institute Kantar, 81 percent wanted no new motorway construction, as did 66 percent of those surveyed with sympathy for the FDP.

However, the question there contained the addition: "In your opinion, should there be no further construction of motorways in Germany

if this can better protect the climate

?" In fact, new roads are said to have a negative effect on the climate.

The construction itself carries less weight than the additional traffic, which is stimulated by additional driving options.

The SPIEGEL survey found an even clearer majority for the expansion of existing routes than for the new construction: 66 percent in favor, 26 percent against.

In the traffic light coalition agreement, it was agreed that "a special focus should be placed on the maintenance and rehabilitation of federal trunk roads".

The Greens also have no objection to the speedy replacement of dilapidated bridges.

Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) went one step further in the current SPIEGEL interview.

“In individual cases” it could also make sense “to close gaps on the Autobahn”.

FDP Secretary of State for Transport Oliver Luksic promptly saw this as confirmation of the Liberals' position.

The Greens, on the other hand, could get into further trouble with their base after their conflict over the coal village of Lützerath.

In Frankfurt am Main, the evacuation of a protest camp in the Fechenheim forest has just been postponed.

Around a thousand trees are to fall there for a good two-kilometer gap closure on the A66.

However, Habeck also confirmed that not all projects should be accelerated: "If everything has the same priority at the same time, then nothing has priority." He doubted whether there were enough construction workers to implement all the planned projects, said the minister.

The coalition had agreed to prioritize investment in rail over road – a goal that it has so far not adhered to.

The majority of Germans would, however, have them behind them.

In the SPIEGEL survey, the railway network was named most frequently, ahead of the autobahns, as to which construction projects should be prioritized.

Cycle paths and expressways followed in third place, followed by waterways and airports.

This ranking also ran through all social groups.

In this case there was even little difference by party preference.

Bahn is number one for everyone except AfD supporters.

ahh

Source: spiegel

All tech articles on 2023-01-15

You may like

Trends 24h

Tech/Game 2024-03-27T18:05:36.686Z

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.