A14 northern extension: progress and challenges during construction!

A14 northern extension: progress and challenges during construction!

Closing the gap in the A14 between Magdeburg and Schwerin is the most extensive new motorway construction project in Germany. The entire route of 155 kilometers stretches across Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Of these, 97 kilometers are in Saxony-Anhalt alone, which are divided into eight traffic units. Construction work is progressing well and some sections are already passable. Work is currently underway south of Stendal on a six-kilometer-long section of the northern extension from Lüderitz to the B188, with completion scheduled for spring 2026. The construction costs for this section amount to around 170 million euros.

However, there have been delays in recent months, particularly in the reconstruction of the Lüderitz exit, which is being redesigned due to accidents. The costs incurred here are estimated at 150,000 euros. The section from Colbitz to Lüderitz has been accessible since 2023, and the next construction work up to the Stendal junction is already being planned. The remaining section from Lüderitz to Osterburg, however, should be completed by 2028, although technical challenges such as crossing the Uchte and three railway lines could make completion more difficult. Deges has also started construction between Dahlenwarsleben and Wolmirstedt, with completion planned for 2029.

Construction progress and challenges

A key challenge is the construction work on the Elbe bridge in Wittenberge, the final shifting of the steel superstructure is scheduled for 2025. Completion for traffic is planned for spring 2026. In addition, the existing Elbe bridge will be demolished and rebuilt. Extensive work is also being carried out at the Döbbelin junction, which will lead to a complete closure of the B188 in the summer of 2025. A further four bridges are under construction near Möhringen, with completion scheduled for 2028 at the earliest.

The A14 northern extension is not only an important transport project, but also an economic driver. Regional companies are benefiting from the construction work, which, according to the Ost Bau company, already employs 512 people. Construction work for the Seehausen-Nord to Wittenberge line is scheduled to be completed in 2025, while the sections between Osterburg-Seehausen-Nord and Wittenberge-Karstädt are in preparation for construction until the end of 2026. The focus of activities in 2025 is on the route between Lüderitz and Stendal, with work starting on June 30, 2025.

Investments and impacts on the region

The Federal Ministry is investing a total of around two billion euros in new motorway construction, which is of great importance for the region between motorways 2, 7, 24 and 10. This region is considered the largest motorway-free area in Germany. The construction of the A14 will not only improve the quality of life of residents, but also increase the attractiveness of residential and business locations. Traffic shifts will also relieve congestion on local thoroughfares, such as the B189, and reduce noise emissions.

Andreas Trenkel, director of the East branch of Autobahn GmbH, emphasizes the important role of the A14 for supra-regional connections. Daniela Kluckert, Parliamentary State Secretary, also describes the A14 as an extremely important project in federal highway construction. The groundbreaking ceremony for the A14 section, which is 14.83 kilometers long and includes 18 bridges and various engineering structures, took place in the summer of 2018.

The compensatory measures that will be taken as part of the new building are also extensive. This includes over 1,000 compensation and replacement measures, including five green bridges and species protection projects. A well-known compensation measure is the Jävenitz Moor with over 150 hectares of revitalization area. The total area of ​​the compensatory measures is over 1,300 hectares, which is twelve times the area of ​​the Wörlitz palace and park complex.

mz.de reports that the gap in the A14 has now been closed with a continuous route of 30 kilometers between Magdeburg and Altmark. Work has already begun on the adjacent sections to the A14 bypass in Stendal and the A2 near Magdeburg. The region is well on its way to sustainable development thanks to the A14.

[autobahn.de informs that the A14 connection will significantly improve the quality of life and the attractiveness of residential and business locations. This major project involves not only economic investments, but also a responsibility towards the environment and society, which goes hand in hand with sustainable and already planned compensatory measures.