Bundesstraßen

Bundesstraßen are a category of major roads in Germany designated with the prefix B and a number. They form part of the federal road network and provide the principal non-motorway routes that connect states, regions, and urban centers. They complement Autobahnen by serving towns not directly linked by motorways and by maintaining important regional connections.

Administration and funding: Bundesstraßen are defined and maintained within the framework of the federal road system under the Bundesfernstraßengesetz. The Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure oversees planning and policy, while the exact financing often involves federal funds coordinated with the states as part of national transport programs.

Characteristics: The roads vary widely in layout and capacity. Many Bundesstraßen are two-lane roads with at-grade intersections, but some stretches have been upgraded to multi-lane or expressway-like standards. Speed limits depend on location and can range from 50 km/h in towns to 100 km/h or more on rural sections. They connect major cities, regional hubs, and important economic areas, easing traffic that would otherwise rely solely on Autobahnen.

History: The Bundesstraßen system traces its origins to earlier Reichsstraßen and has continued as the defined federal road network since the post-war period. It forms a key part of Germany’s transport infrastructure and remains subject to ongoing modernization and expansion within the Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan.