Nuremberg Parties Warn of Decade-Long Standstill Over Frankenschnellweg Vote

Nuremberg's ruling coalition of CSU and SPD has cautioned that halting the Frankenschnellweg expansion could lead to a decade of stagnation. The city's residents will decide on June 28 whether to approve the contentious traffic project, an inner-city extension of the A73 highway. Mayor Andreas Kriegelstein (CSU) stated that any alternative plan would require at least ten years to implement.

The current plan, which has already secured planning permission and city council approval, includes a grade-separated route for the Frankenschnellweg, with a 1.8-kilometer tunnel. A park is planned for the tunnel's roof. The estimated cost is nearly 1.1 billion euros. For years, thousands of residents have endured significant noise and air pollution, compounded by traffic jams due to signalized intersections.

Opponents have legally challenged the project for decades, citing a lengthy construction period of at least twelve years and high costs. Kriegelstein noted that costs have escalated significantly, and an earlier start would have reduced the budget. Both CSU and SPD representatives have pledged to accept the referendum's outcome, provided the opposing side also commits to respecting the decision and refrains from further legal challenges if the expansion is approved.

With 95,000 absentee ballots already cast out of 380,000 sent to eligible voters, a high turnout is anticipated for the referendum.

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Any conceivable alternative would require at least a decade of lead time.