A39 expansion: Laue calls for quick action from the state government!

A39 expansion: Laue calls for quick action from the state government!

In the last few weeks, the discussion about the expansion of the A39 motorway has been in full swing. The CDU state parliament member Lena-Sophie Laue in particular is putting pressure on the state government not to tolerate the standstill in construction any longer. Current information that the Celle press published show that the start of construction between Wittingen, Ehra and Wolfsburg is a long way off. Laue criticizes the long planning approval process, which has now dragged on for years.

There is still no start to construction on the entire section between Lüneburg and Wolfsburg. Either the necessary legally binding approvals are missing, or lawsuits are preventing progress. The CDU demands that the state of Lower Saxony, as the responsible planning approval authority, finally become more active and exploit the possibilities that already exist.

Urgent need for commuters and businesses

The expansion of the A39 is not just a question of traffic, but also a significant challenge for the economic future of the region. Commuters and companies rely on a well-developed infrastructure in order to conduct their business efficiently. “The annoyed citizens in my constituencies speak a clear language,” reports Laue and calls for more political commitment to implement the projects.

There is a planning approval decision for the first construction phase near Lüneburg. Although this has been complained about, it is legally valid. Laue suggests initiating an immediate enforcement procedure, similar to that used in 2019 for the Celle bypass (B3). This could significantly speed up the process.

Overview of the plans for the A39

The A39 stretches for around 105 km and is of enormous importance for the region. The planning bodies of the Lower Saxony State Authority for Road Construction and Transport have already extended the planning approval application for the new construction of section 6 of the A39, which begins near Wittingen and ends north of Ehra. Overall, many aspects were taken into account in the planning, from the Eutzen bypass to two wild bridges.

The construction section is around 18.1 km long. The planning approval process was initiated in April 2018, but the COVID-19 pandemic also took hold here and caused delays. After the discussion date was canceled, an online consultation took place. 66 statements were submitted here, mainly relating to environmental concerns, noise emissions and the overall concept of the A39.

The citizens of the region expect the state government to finally set clear priorities and not further lose trust in political promises. The exchange between residents and government authorities should be made more transparent in order to take people's concerns seriously. Laue and other CDU MPs are ready to advocate for rapid expansion in the state parliament.

Overall, it remains to be seen whether the state of Lower Saxony can muster the necessary momentum to push ahead with the expansion of the A39 and sustainably improve the region's infrastructure.