Court ruling could break the deadlock on stalled A39 motorway expansion

The expansion of the A39 motorway between Wolfsburg and Lüneburg remains stalled. A court ruling due on Tuesday may decide whether construction can resume in key sections. The project has faced repeated legal challenges from environmental group BUND. Construction of the A39’s southern segment, running from Wolfsburg to Ehra, has been on hold for years. In 2019, a court first sided with BUND, halting progress on the planning approval. The Lower Saxony State Road and Transport Authority later launched an amendment procedure in December 2020, but BUND filed another lawsuit in 2024.

An oral hearing for this latest case was moved from 13 May to 23 June. Autobahn GmbH’s website still lists the southern section as having an approval decision that cannot be enforced until the legal process ends. A new Tappenbecker Moor service area is also planned between the Weyhausen interchange and the future Ehra exit.

Once finished, the A39 will link Lüneburg, Wolfsburg, Helmstedt, Wolfenbüttel, Braunschweig and Salzgitter, merging with the A7. The upcoming ruling will clarify if work can proceed in the Wolfsburg and Gifhorn areas. Until then, the project remains in limbo. The decision may also affect the timeline for the Tappenbecker Moor service area and the broader A39 connection.