Construction of the A14 is progressing: Elbe bridge will soon be passable!

Construction of the A14 is progressing: Elbe bridge will soon be passable!

Road construction is very important in the Altmark, especially with the new construction of the A14 between Wittenberge and Seehausen-Nord. This motorway will not only better connect the region to the federal highway network, but will also significantly improve the mobility of residents. However, the construction is not without challenges, as a look at the current situation shows.

Since April, road users on the B189 have had to live with narrowed lanes, 50 km/h speed limits and traffic light regulations. The reason? The construction of an 11 kilometer long section of the A14, which is developing rapidly. At an information event held by Deges last week, project manager Silke Kinner announced some positive news. The access to the B195 towards Cumlosen and Lenzen will be accessible again in August thanks to an earlier than planned completion. The volume of traffic on the B189 is routed to the Elbe bridge via a temporary lane.

Construction progress and traffic changes

Great progress has also been made in the construction of the new Elbe bridge. This impressive steel structure is 412 meters long and 31 meters wide. At the end of April it finally reached the shore in Saxony-Anhalt. However, residents point out that the new traffic routes result in long detours: some even had to expect an additional journey of around 30 kilometers, which is causing dissatisfaction. Deges is therefore examining the planned traffic routes and taking citizens' concerns seriously.

Construction work on the new roundabout at the intersection of Krähenstückenweg and Beguinenweg is expected to continue until the end of the year. At the same time, Deges is planning to partially open the A14 between Seehausen-Nord and Wittenberge in mid-2026. The route should be fully accessible by the end of 2027, which will be of great benefit to the entire region.

Financial dimensions of the project

With a total cost of around 2.3 billion euros, the northern extension of the A14 is one of the largest new motorway construction projects in Germany. The section between Seehausen-Nord and Wittenberge costs around 513 million euros. 182 million euros are planned for the Elbe bridge. Around 2.1 million cubic meters of soil will be built and around 150 construction workers will be deployed to advance the ambitious project.

The German federal highway network, which will include around 13,200 kilometers of federal highways in 2023, goes hand in hand with the latest developments. The expansion of highways plays a central role in road construction, which generated a turnover of more than 13 billion euros in 2023, although the sector is struggling with challenges, as shown by a doubling of insolvency proceedings in road construction. Nevertheless, road construction remains a stable employer with more than 80,000 employees in Germany.

Overall, it can be said that the construction of the A14 not only represents an important transport connection for the Altmark, but is also integrated into the nationwide road construction efforts. Investments in infrastructure are expected to continue to increase in the future and promise improved connections for all citizens of this region.

For further information about the A14 and construction progress, you can read the current articles from Northern Courier and Deges track. You can also find statistical insights into road construction here Statista.