A99 expansion: Six lanes for traffic to the main Italian axis!

A99 expansion: Six lanes for traffic to the main Italian axis!

The motorways in the Munich district are the focus of the current article series “Everyday Motorway” by Münchner Merkur. The district is by far the most populous in Bavaria and also the one with the most motorways. A total of eight motorways - A92, A9, A94, A8, A995, A95, A96 and A99 - run through this region, with the A99 playing a special role. It stretches over 43 kilometers and, as the main axis for traffic from northern Germany to Italy, causes quite a stir. What is particularly noteworthy is that up to 200,000 vehicles travel on this artery every day, with the highest traffic recorded in Aschheim/Ismaning with 120,000 vehicles per day.

In recent years there have been a number of construction sites that are handled differently depending on the type of highway. There are a total of 329 bridges in the district, many of which date back to the 1970s and 25 of which are in rather poor condition. There is a tunnel under renovation on the A96 near Gräfelfing, which is scheduled to be completed by December 2027 - the costs amount to an impressive 33 million euros. Despite the heavy traffic and planned improvements, the number of large parking spaces is limited. There are only two significant parking spaces in the district, and an expansion for 106 truck parking spaces is planned near Otterfing.

Planned changes and their effects

The expansion of the A99 to six lanes, which is scheduled to begin in 2028, is already raising questions. Additional lanes will be created on each side, resulting in forecasts of 120,000 vehicles per working day by 2035. This could not only lead to higher traffic congestion, but also to increased exhaust emissions and possibly to exceeding pollutant limits in the air. The Federal Nature Conservation Union expresses concern about possible health risks for residents and refers to studies that predict increased nitrogen dioxide levels in existing new development areas.

The limit value for nitrogen dioxide is currently 40 μg/m³ and will be reduced to half from 2030. What is worrying is that even a new country park east of the motorway is unlikely to meet the new limits. Munich's climate-relevant department has already decided on measures such as a speed limit on Landshuter Allee to counteract the poor air quality. Such measures could also be necessary for the motorway itself, but Autobahn GmbH would have to agree to this.

Traffic in numbers

The “Traffic in Numbers” statistics from the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure provide an exciting insight into the mobility of Germans. These comprehensive statistics look at all aspects of traffic pollution, from infrastructure investments to accident rates and emissions. It is a valuable basis for planning and analyzing traffic in Germany and is published annually by the BMV. Much of this data is available to the public free of charge in PDF and Excel formats, while the printed edition is subject to payment.

In summary, it can be said that the upcoming changes to the A99 will not only have a significant impact on the traffic situation in Munich, but can also have far-reaching effects on air quality and thus on the health of residents. The coming years will be crucial in meeting these challenges and ensuring sustainable mobility.

Munich Mercury reports that... Evening newspaper Munich also provides information on… BMV provides comprehensive data that…