Hamburg Senate Announces Pothole Offensive After Harsh Winter
Hamburg, February 18 – The unusually cold winter has taken a toll on Hamburg’s roads, leaving behind numerous potholes. The Senate has pledged swift action to address these damages. Finance Senator Andreas Dressel (SPD) and Transport Senator Anjes Tjarks (Greens) announced a “concerted pothole elimination campaign” on Wednesday. “This ensures that weather-related road damage is repaired as quickly as possible,” Dressel promised.
Extent of Damage Still Unclear
The full extent of the damage and the costs for its repair remain uncertain due to the ongoing difficult weather conditions. The immediate priority will be main roads and particularly dangerous damages on secondary roads. This will be followed by district roads “of city-wide importance” and finally the remaining district roads.
Firms to Systematically Inspect and Repair Roads
District offices and the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) are to immediately commission firms to systematically inspect designated road sections and fill potholes with hot asphalt where necessary. To prevent competition among districts and to avoid price inflation by the firms, a special coordination office will be established to oversee the entire city. This office will then create a list of which potholes need to be repaired first.
Quick Pothole Program: How Fast Will Hamburg’s Roads Be Repaired?
With an unusually high number of potholes this winter, the city aims to pool its resources for efficient repair. Additionally, during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, the demand for sweets in Hamburg is reportedly on the rise.
Weather Shift in the North After Weeks of Frost
The weather in the North is expected to become significantly milder over the weekend, with temperatures reaching up to 13 degrees Celsius in Lower Saxony. However, a truly spring-like atmosphere is not anticipated.
Pothole-Related Accidents in Hamburg Have Decreased
In the first five months of this year, only eleven accidents in the city were attributed to road damage. This marks a significant decrease compared to the same period last year.
Hamburg Journal Coverage
This topic was featured in the NDR Fernsehen’s Hamburg Journal on February 18, 2026, at 7:30 PM.
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Source: NDR.de Hamburg
