Excessive costs for road closures

Hello,

after several difficulties, I have taken over my prefabricated house, which was built by a market-leading company.
The final invoice was a big disappointment because it included very high additional costs, namely the costs for road closure.
The road in the new development area had to be closed once for the basement and once for the house, and I am supposed to pay over 4000 euros in total. About 1700 + 2300 euros. The new development area consists of two ring roads, so it is easy to find a detour.

I had already complained about the 1700 when the basement was built and did not know about the 2300 until now. The caseworker justified these costs by saying that the city prescribes the requirements and it would be very complicated to comply with all the rules.
However, the public order office in my city is very accommodating and by no means complicated. The responsible official could not believe that it had to be so expensive, as he himself only charges 30 euros for a closure under one week and about 6 or at most 10 signs are needed. He advised me to hire a lawyer.
I also asked in the homeowners' community in the new development area, and each closure should have cost about 300-600 euros.
The city water master, who constantly has to work in a closed street, also said that it could be done for under 300 euros, since a company closes all parts of the street one after the other piece by piece anyway and not much cost can really accrue.
Since the handover has already taken place, I have paid all the costs but withheld the costs for the road closure.
The responsible caseworker said that if I knew so much better, why I would have left the closure to the crane company. Besides, it would be unfair to claim the costs after the service was provided. I never had a cost estimate for the road closure.

How should I best proceed? Hire a lawyer over 4000 euros, or perhaps try with a board complaint?
What experiences have you had?

Best regards

So you have already established that the closure had to happen. You were already surprised at €1700 and didn't think that the second time would cost a similar amount? Or are BOTH closures only now appearing on the invoice? You knew that the construction company had to close off and left it to them and thus commissioned it? Without a concrete offer? If this is summarized correctly, you can most likely save yourself the lawyer. Neighbors, caseworkers, etc. can say whatever they want. You commissioned it, you have to pay for it.

Road closure could have been well paid for by our house construction company with 900€. In the end, we did it ourselves, 30€ fee and 50€ for the loan of the signs from acquaintances of acquaintances of acquaintances.

You can try to complain higher up in the hierarchy. If the company does not accommodate you, I would pay. This necessary service was provided, the lady is right. What do you want to achieve with the lawyer? They will hardly waive the entire 4000€. Plus lawyer fees and all the stress and hassle, with the chance of ending up paying everything plus the lawyer? No.

When I found out about the first closures, the street had already been closed twice. So I was informed retrospectively. That the closure would be carried out by the crane company was mentioned once during the first construction site meeting. I did not specifically commission it.

So you have already established that the closure was necessary.
You were already wide-eyed at €1700 and did not consider that the second time would also cost a similar amount? Or do BOTH closures only appear on the invoice now?
You knew that the construction company had to block off and left it to them and thus commissioned it? Without a concrete offer?

If that is summarized correctly, you can very likely save yourself the lawyer. Neighbors, case workers, etc., can say as much as they want. You commissioned it, you have to pay for it.

The following sentences are in the protocol of the construction site meeting.

A road closure (basement installation approx. 1 day and house installation approx. 2 days) is necessary.
The application and signage are carried out by the crane contractor.

When I found out about the first closure, the street had already been closed twice. So I was informed retrospectively. That the closure would be carried out by the crane company was mentioned once during the first construction site meeting. I did not specifically commission it.

What does your contract with the prefab house company say about such costs?

Basically, I agree with the others. You discuss such things beforehand. That the crane company is obviously adding a surcharge now is legitimate. They want to earn something, have administration, a few phone calls, etc.