A14 building in full speed: All information about the north extension at Stendal!

A14 building in full speed: All information about the north extension at Stendal!

The progress in the construction of the A14 motorway, one of the largest new motorway projects in Germany, is the focus of current reporting. Infrastructure Minister Lydia Hüskens (FDP) is optimistic about the continuation of the construction work, especially after the commitment of a billion package for the infrastructure. This is particularly noteworthy, since at the beginning of the year, concerns about possible construction delays were loud due to unclear financing issues. This week Hüskens visited the construction site to find out about the status of the work on the A14. A central concern is the completion of the section currently under construction between Lüderitz and the B188 near Stendal until the end of 2025.

Overall, the A14 north extension, which extends over a total length of 155 kilometers, includes eight sections in Saxony-Anhalt, some of which are already accessible. One of the main construction projects is the six -kilometer section between Lüderitz and the B188. The estimated construction costs for this section are around 170 million euros. However, the conversion of the Lüderitz departure is delayed and will only be completed in February 2025, which requires a detour of the traffic. Construction work on the section towards Osterburg is also underway, but the entirety of the construction work could be slowed down by unstable weather in 2024.

technical challenges and safety aspects

For the safety of road users, the new approach and departure regulations in Lüderitz are of central importance, which have been in force since the beginning of the year. This already led to several traffic accidents, including a fatal incident. Steffen Kauert, a spokesman for the project, points out that traffic offenses from individual drivers cannot be generalized, but the safety concerns still have to be a top priority. There are also considerable technical challenges for the construction phase between Lüderitz and Osterburg, including the crossing of the Uchte and three railway lines, which could delay the completion to 2028

The entire project has a remarkable dimension. With a total volume of over 2 billion euros, local companies, including Ost Bau, benefited from the construction work. The A14 north extension is an elementary part of the restoration of a powerful traffic infrastructure that had serious gaps after the division of Germany. The progress is part of the comprehensive VDE projects (Transport projects of German unity), which are aimed at modernizing the transport network in the east. By the end of 2023, 40.2 billion euros have already been invested in these projects that are crucial for the economic and social upswing.

outlook for the future

The traffic release for the section from Lüderitz to the B188 is to take place by the end of 2025, while the entire section to Osterburg should go in completion by 2028. The A14 north extension represents an integral part of the motorway connections between Magdeburg, Wittenberge and Schwerin and is expected to be expanded at the Döbbelin junction until summer 2025. The overall investments in the motorway project, whose expansion contributions lead to closer networking of the federal states, are an expression of the endeavor to improve infrastructure attitudes in Germany.

While the work progresses, it remains to be seen to what extent the challenges mentioned above have an impact on schedules and how the security situation develops in the relevant sections. However, an ongoing commitment to improve the infrastructure is essential to meet the requirements of today's traffic conditions.