Because the few cross-border roads between the former Federal Republic and West Berlin were entirely unable to cope with the dramatic increase in West-East traffic after 1989, primary importance was given to the development of the most significant
East-West axes within the framework of the Verkehrsprojekte Deutsche Einheit. These projects got important impacts for the accessibility of East German regions and economic development in their close vicinity. After industry collapsed the railway lost
more than half of its previous volume of transports, and road transport of goods increase to a similar position as in the West. The development of personal transport in the new Länder is characterised by a previously unseen growth in motorised
individual traffic and huge losses in public transport passengers. In addition to fast motorisation, the necessity for commercial management with sometimes drastic price increases is the main cause of this development. - (HPB)