WIEFELSTEDE (dpa-AFX) – Amid protests from environmentalists, construction work on the first section of Autobahn 20 in Lower Saxony between Westerstede (A28) and Jaderberg (A29) near Oldenburg has officially begun. “The A 20 coastal motorway is the most important infrastructure project in northern Germany,” emphasized Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder at the symbolic groundbreaking ceremony. It will provide relief for the existing motorways in and around Hamburg and connect the German ports on the North and Baltic Seas, said the CDU politician. So far, the A20 coming from Stettin in Poland ends east of Bad Segeberg in Schleswig-Holstein.
Criticism from conservationists
For the first section, Autobahn GmbH expects construction to take several years and costs around 340 million euros. Opponents and supporters had fought over the construction for years. Since the nature conservation organization BUND recently withdrew a lawsuit against a change decision, a planning approval decision has been in effect since August 2025. However, criticism from environmentalists and the Greens continues. They see moors and forests threatened.
Read: “Signal of Departure”
Lower Saxony’s Prime Minister Olaf Lies described the groundbreaking for the 13-kilometer-long construction section as “a signal of departure.” “The A 20 ensures more mobility for citizens, makes it easier to transport goods, solves logistical challenges and promotes tourism,” emphasized the SPD politician./jbi/DP/jha