German municipalities demand federal funding for A39 highway completion

Fourteen municipalities across Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg, and Saxony-Anhalt have jointly appealed to the German federal government to secure funding for the construction of the A39 autobahn. In a letter addressed to Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil and Transport Minister Steffen Bilger, mayors and district administrators emphasized the critical importance of completing the seventh section of the highway in eastern Lower Saxony.

The signatories, including the cities of Braunschweig, Salzgitter, and Wolfsburg, along with several districts, stated that the "gap closure" of the A39 is vital for the economy and the people of eastern Lower Saxony. They highlighted that this project, in conjunction with the A14 and the connecting B190n route, also benefits districts in neighboring states.

This call for funding comes after the Federal Administrative Court dismissed a lawsuit filed by the environmental organization BUND in early July. The lawsuit challenged the planning approval for the section of the autobahn between Wolfsburg and Lüneburg. The municipalities now urge the federal government to utilize the established building rights for this segment without delay, contingent upon the government allocating the necessary funds in the budget and issuing construction permits.

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The gap closure of the A39 is of crucial importance for the economy and the people in eastern Lower Saxony.

The seventh construction phase involves a 14.2-kilometer stretch of highway between the Weyhausen and Ehra junctions. Currently, the A39 terminates in Weyhausen. Once fully completed, the entire A39 will span 105 kilometers, extending from southern Lower Saxony to Hamburg and running parallel to the A7. The estimated investment for the project is between 1.5 and 2 billion euros.

Uelzen district administrator Heiko Blume stressed the need for decisive federal action, stating, "After decades of planning, the federal government must now act decisively and utilize the established building rights as quickly as possible, meaning get construction underway." The project affects over two million residents in the involved cities and districts.

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After decades of planning, the federal government must now act decisively and utilize the established building rights as quickly as possible, meaning get construction underway.