Autobahn GmbH asserted: "No concealment occurred" regarding Rahmedetalbrücke

The Rahmedetal Bridge incident, which has been under investigation in the state parliament's investigative committee, has seen new developments as more details come to light.

The director of the Hagen branch of the Autobahn GmbH, Elfriede Sauerwein-Braksiek, has admitted to damages caused by incorrect traffic management on the Rahmedetal Bridge. This admission contradicts her spokesperson's previous statements.

In June, an engineer testified that she was pressured to keep the Rahmedetal Bridge open, despite knowing it was unsafe, and was told to change her report. This revelation adds to the growing concerns about the safety of the bridge.

The meeting regarding the Rahmedetal Bridge was initially reported as being to determine, not to uncover, the issues. However, new information provided through statements in the state parliament's investigative committee and by SPD faction leader Gordan Dudas suggests that pressure was indeed put on employees in the Rahmedetal Bridge incident.

Sauerwein-Braksiek has defended the company's actions regarding the Rahmedetal Bridge, but she has not denied the incorrect traffic management and non-compliant calculations on the bridge. The director also justified the deletion of sensitive passages from the protocol, stating that they were not the actual topic of the meeting.

New images show the dire state of the Rahmedetal Bridge, with signs of wear and tear visible. The stability calculations for the bridge were not carried out according to regulations, further fuelling concerns about its safety.

Despite the ongoing investigation, no new information has been provided about the shortened protocol for the Rahmedetal Bridge or the deletion of sensitive passages from the protocol. The scheduled availability date of the Rahmedetal Bridge, which is set for September 5, 2027, has also not been updated.

Our own research has uncovered new details about the Rahmedetal Bridge incident. In 2014, truck lanes were incorrectly set up on the bridge, and stability calculations were not carried out according to regulations.

The Rahmedetal Bridge incident continues to be a topic of interest and concern, with the state parliament's investigative committee still actively looking into the matter. As more details emerge, the public will continue to be updated on the progress of the investigation.