Uelzen's mayor demands clarity: Is the A39 finally coming?

Uelzen's mayor demands clarity: Is the A39 finally coming?

Uelzen's mayor Jürgen Markwardt is currently busy with an important matter that affects many citizens in the region. On December 4, 2025, he appealed to the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig and asked for information about the status of the lawsuits against the construction of the A39. This motorway is seen as a key infrastructure project for the Hanseatic city of Uelzen and the surrounding region, and Markwardt is convinced that it will not only increase mobility, but also open up new economic opportunities, jobs and stimulus for leisure and tourism.

The A39 is considered urgently necessary, and closing the gap between Lüneburg and Wolfsburg is particularly important to local citizens. Despite a long planning process and extensive consultations, the start of construction has not yet been carried out. “We need reliability,” emphasizes Markwardt, who points out the unclear situation with the pending lawsuits. Confidence in the progress of the project is essential for regional development, said the mayor. In Uelzen, numerous players, including companies, associations and political representatives, have been committed to making the A39 a reality since planning began. A large part of the population sees this construction project as an opportunity to improve the development of the structurally weak area.

Legal dispute over the A39

But the A39 is not without controversy. The BUND Lower Saxony has filed another lawsuit before the Federal Administrative Court against the first construction phase of the motorway. The lawsuit is supported by various groups, including the Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD) and local citizens' initiatives that were formed out of concern for the environment. Critical points in the lawsuit include the fragmentation of valuable protected areas, insufficient consideration of species protection and outdated traffic volume calculations.

The dispute over the A39 has been going on for two decades, and the first concrete plan was presented in October 2004. During this time there were many discussions about different route variants and comprehensive planning procedures that included all the necessary tests. The Lüneburg-Wolfsburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry supports the construction, while farmers, environmentalists and concerned residents are mobilizing against the project.

Financing and future prospects

The question of financing remains a central point. Estimated costs for the A39 are between 1.5 and 2 billion euros, and due to austerity constraints in the federal budget, the construction plans are on the brink. A recently canceled renovation project between Winsen-Ost and Handorf highlights the challenges facing the infrastructure in Germany. Not only the A39, but many other projects suffer from ongoing underfunding and inefficient planning processes, which can lead to delays.

In order to get these problems under control, consideration is being given to setting up a central organizational unit that could take care of the implementation of public infrastructure projects. Their task would be to promote efficient planning and coordination processes and thus strengthen trust in public investment policy.

The debate about the A39 remains exciting and it remains to be seen how the legal disputes will develop. However, it is clear to the citizens of Uelzen: there is great hope for improved transport connections, and the desire for clarity and progress is at the heart of the discussions.