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Winemakers Unite to Oppose the Building of an Ugly and Unnecessary Bridge over the Moselle River in Germany's Famed Mosel Wine Region. But is it TOO LATE?

By Andis Kaulins

Plans for the Moselle Bridge: Winemakers Flex Muscles Before Upcoming State Election - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International.

What chance does the environment have when politicians, regional political administrators and environment-blind engineers destroy the best landscapes of their own national heritage? Take the Moselle River Valley in the Mosel wine region of Germany as an example.

It is currently the site of one of the most outrageous and unnecessary bridge construction projects ever to threaten a beautiful region, in this case known for its breathtaking panoramic scenery and fantastic wines. Indeed, tourism and wine are the major industries of the Moselle River Valley. Per capita population, the Middle Mosel attracts more tourists than any region in Germany except the island of Rügen, while Mosel wines enjoy world-wide favor in a competitive market. But now both industries are seriously threatened by one of the most detested building projects ever to be carried out on German soil.

The politicians and political administrators in Federal Germany and the Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz) have OK'd the building of a massive, totally ugly and apparently design-less "Autobahn" bridge over the Moselle River in almost the exact middle of the Mosel wine region, a gigantic construction project already underway which threatens both the fantastic scenery as well as the wine reputation of the region and virtually destroys a section of the famed Middle Mosel River Valley.

Very little necessity justifies the building of this bridge, other than the selfish vested interests of those who seek to profit from it. The German population is not increasing, it is declining.  Who needs a brand new freeway that does nothing but connect metropolitan centers that are far out of the country? No one. Bridges like this are not necessary because the new freeway being built there is also unnecessary. It is nothing more than a boondoggle for special interests.

At the same time, nearby stretches of the scenic road along the Moselle River languish agonizingly and have for years awaited surface repair and renewal.

Something is seriously wrong with road construction priorities in Germany.

Can the upcoming elections turn the tide in favor of sanity?

Read all about it at Plans for the Moselle Bridge: Winemakers Flex Muscles Before Upcoming State Election - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International.

Full post as published by LawPundit on March 03, 2011 (boomark / email).