Closing the gap in Lower Saxony: cities and counties call on the Federal Government to extend the A39

Fourteen municipalities from Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg, and Saxony-Anhalt have jointly urged the federal government to secure financial support for the continuation of the A39 motorway in eastern Lower Saxony. The request was made in a letter addressed to Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil of the SPD and Transport Minister Steffen Bilger of the CDU, according to a statement issued by the district of Uelzen on behalf of the participating communities. The letter emphasizes the importance of completing the motorway link for both economic and social reasons in the region. The A39 extension project involves constructing a seven-kilometre stretch of motorway between the junctions of Weyhausen and Ehra. This section would connect the existing A39 with the A14 motorway and the connecting transverse route B190n, thereby improving regional connectivity. The project’s completion would contribute to a total of 105 kilometres of completed A39, stretching from southern Lower Saxony to Hamburg. The initiative has been supported by multiple local authorities, including cities such as Braunschweig, Salzgitter, and Wolfsburg, as well as districts like Uelzen, Celle, Gifhorn, Harburg, Helmstedt, Lüneburg, Ludwigslust-Parchim, Nordwestmecklenburg, Prignitz, Altmarkkreis Salzwedel, and Stendal. According to Uelzen District Mayor Heiko Blume, more than two million residents live in these towns and districts. “After decades of planning, the federal government must now act decisively and make use of the existing building rights,” he stated. The urgency stems from the need to utilize the current legal framework for construction, which requires the federal government to allocate funds in its budget and issue construction permits. In June, the Federal Administrative Court rejected a lawsuit filed by the environmental group BUND against the plan approval decision for the section of the motorway between Wolfsburg and Lüneburg. The court ruled that the project met all necessary legal requirements. Despite this ruling, the local governments argue that the federal government still needs to move forward with the funding and authorization process. The proposed expansion is part of a larger infrastructure investment, estimated to cost between 1.5 billion and 2 billion euros. The German Motorway Company, responsible for implementing the project, outlined the scale of the investment early this year. Once completed, the extended A39 will run parallel to the western A7 motorway, branching off south of Hildesheim. This alignment aims to enhance transportation efficiency and reduce travel times for goods and passengers moving through the region. Local officials stress that the project is essential for maintaining economic growth and ensuring reliable transport links. They highlight the long-term benefits of completing the motorway, particularly in supporting trade and mobility across the northeastern part of Germany. With the current political climate and ongoing discussions over national infrastructure priorities, the success of the A39 extension will depend on the federal government's ability to finalize the necessary approvals and funding allocations.