A proposal to build Germany’s largest motorway has drawn widespread criticism. Critics fear the “monster” will increase emissions of pollutants that will harm the climate, worsen noise pollution and damage habitats rich in biodiversity.
The recommendation proposes widening a section of the A5 outside the western city of Frankfurt to 10 lanes, at an estimated cost of €1.1 billion ($1.2 billion).
Supporters say it is necessary to accommodate the expected increase in traffic on one of Germany’s busiest highways, but it also strikes a nerve amid growing concerns about the climate crisis.
Hans Christoph Stoodt, from an action group opposed to the plans, described the idea as “completely insane”, adding that it would lead to a “monstrosity”.
“The German government has committed to making Germany climate neutral by 2045… and the same government is planning a 10-lane motorway here,” he told AFP.
“We need to expand public transport and drastically reduce private, motorised transport that runs on fossil fuels.”
The proposal was presented in a feasibility study commissioned by state-owned Autobahn GmbH, which manages the country’s motorways, but was only made public in recent weeks under pressure from activists.
Authorities have since stressed that they still do not know what to do.
The Berlin Ministry of Transport indicated that the study does not represent a final decision and will only form part of the considerations.
– ‘Madness’ –
The affected stretch, which runs about 30 kilometers (18 miles) from an interchange near the city’s airport to the town of Friedberg in the north, currently has six or eight lanes.
The study shows that the extension is necessary to accommodate the impending increase in traffic volume.
According to the research, the A5 is already full at busy times and will become even busier in the future: by 2030 there will be around 200,000 cars on the road every day.
In addition to a possible increase in emissions, Stoodt mentioned a whole list of other problems that widening the highway would bring.
According to the 69-year-old, who lives in the Griesheim district of Frankfurt, close to the highway, houses close to the highway would have to be demolished to make way for additional lanes.
Despite the high barriers along the side of the highway that are supposed to reduce noise, the constant rumble of traffic is already above allowable levels and would only get worse with an extension, said Stoodt, whose group is called “It is too loud.”
Stefan Gegner, who led the legal proceedings to force Autobahn GmbH to make the study public, lives in a house just 50 metres from the motorway and says the traffic noise is already very loud.
If additional lanes were added, he fears the noise would get worse and the barriers would reach his house. Meanwhile, the area would be transformed into a construction site for several years.
“It’s just madness, you don’t want to live there anymore,” said the 53-year-old.
Stoodt is also concerned about the impact on the surrounding nature, as the proposed expansion will run through an area that supplies drinking water and is also home to a bird sanctuary.
– ‘Not insurmountable’ –
However, the study found that there are no “insurmountable environmental barriers” to widening the highway.
The conclusions state that widening the motorway section to 10 lanes is the only option examined that would provide ‘sufficient capacity’ to handle the expected increase in traffic.
A federal government transport plan also provides for the expansion of parts of the A5, although the study continues.
Authorities have received mixed messages.
Frankfurt city officials have spoken out strongly against widening the road to 10 lanes.
The government of the state of Hesse, where Frankfurt is located, has said it is not against the idea, but only if the road is covered with some kind of fence to reduce noise pollution.
However, the final decision lies with the Berlin Ministry of Transport, which is led by the motorway-friendly FDP party.
A spokeswoman for the ministry said that in addition to traffic flow, factors such as the impact on nature, air pollution and noise pollution are also taken into account.
But the expansion is not ruled out. A “general concept” will now be drawn up regarding any possible widening, taking into account the feasibility study and other factors such as updated traffic studies, the report said.
sr/hmn/rl
