Bridge closures are no longer an exception. In many regions of Germany and Europe, transport structures are reaching their load limits — with direct consequences for freight forwarders, shippers and regional economic areas. What looks like a local construction site at first glance can seriously disrupt complex supply chains.

For logistics, this means longer travel times, rising costs and increased planning uncertainty.

If a bridge fails, the entire network moves

Road infrastructure is systemically structured. If a central Rhine crossing, a motorway bridge or a feeder to an industrial area is omitted, traffic is spread over alternative routes.

The immediate consequences:

• Detours via country roads
• additional traffic jams at junctions
• Congestion of previously little-used routes
• extended pre- and post-runs to terminals

Weight restrictions have a particularly strong effect on heavy goods vehicles. Many alternative routes are only suitable for 40-ton trucks to a limited extent.

Operational effects on transportation planning

Bridge closures don't just affect individual routes — they change entire scheduled services.

1. Longer running times

A detour of 25 to 40 kilometers per trip is not uncommon. On highly frequented routes, this quickly adds up.

2. Increasing costs

Extra kilometers mean:

• higher diesel consumption
• additional toll costs
• longer driver working hours
• Potentially additional vehicles in circulation

Calculations come under pressure, especially at fixed contract rates.

3. Shortages in time windows

Industrial companies are increasingly working with tight delivery windows. Extended journeys increase the risk of delays — particularly for just-in-time or just-in-sequence deliveries.

Regional risks become visible

Regions with:

• few alternative crossing options (e.g. river regions)
• strong industrial concentration
• high truck density
• limited rail infrastructure

If a key bridge fails, bottleneck zones arise. The economic dependence on individual buildings suddenly becomes apparent.

Effects on multimodal transport

Combined transport is also not spared. Although rail takes over the main route, pre- and post-flow is often carried out by truck. If access to the terminal is via a blocked bridge, intermodal transport is also extended.

In addition, there may be bottlenecks in port connections if important access routes are restricted.

Short-term measures in practice

Freight forwarders respond operationally with:

• daily route adjustment
• Use of alternative motorway junctions
• close coordination with shippers
• Buffer times in sensitive relationships
• Switch to night driving, where permitted

Digital telematics systems help to identify traffic conditions at an early stage. However, there remains a residual risk, particularly in the event of short-term blockages.

Medium-term strategies

Companies are increasingly looking at:

• regional warehouse relocations
• alternative distribution centers
• increased use of rail transport
• Customization of tour clusters

Infrastructure is thus becoming a strategic factor in location planning.

Infrastructure cost factor

While construction and renovation are public responsibility, transport companies bear the additional operational costs. These are reflected indirectly in freight rates.

The longer suspensions last, the stronger the impact of the following factors is:

• additional vehicle hours
• higher maintenance intervals due to additional load
• increased accident risks on alternative routes

The question of infrastructure is therefore also becoming a question of price.

conclusion

Bridge closures are more than just a regional nuisance — they affect entire transport networks. Diversions, additional costs and term extensions require flexible scheduling and forward-looking planning.

Infrastructure quality is increasingly becoming a competitive factor. Those who assess risks at an early stage and develop alternative route strategies reduce operational disruptions — even in tense traffic situations.