Insufficient Funds for Projects A20 and A39?
News Article: Highway Expansion Delays in Lower Saxony Raise Concerns
In a recent development, Lower Saxony's Transport Minister, Grant Hendrik Tonne, has expressed concerns over delays in the expansion and construction of several highways due to insufficient federal funding. The affected highways include the A26 and A33, in addition to the A7, A20, and A39.
According to Tonne, all planning for these highways has been completed, and work on the A20, A39, and A7 in Lower Saxony should start immediately and continue on the A7. However, the federal budget for 2025 and the current draft of the federal budget for 2026 are reportedly insufficient for these promised projects.
The urging for clarity on highway expansion planning has been directed towards the Federal Minister of Transport, Patrick Schnieder (CDU), who presented the federal transport budget draft and discussed investment priorities in the Bundestag on July 8, 2025.
Tonne's statement suggests that the current delay in the A20, A39, and A7 highways in Lower Saxony may be due to insufficient federal funding. Moreover, it implies that the 74 planning projects for the expansion and new construction of highways nationwide may also be at risk of delay due to inadequate funding.
Tonne has emphasized that the funds from the special road fund should be used exclusively for federal highways. He finds it incomprehensible that there is no progress on additional funds for transport infrastructure and considers the political signal of more arguing than building counterproductive.
The minister also stated that a construction permit is only possible once the corresponding budget allocations are increased, according to the financing and implementation plan. He warns against additional billions not being allocated for transport infrastructure.
In response to the concerns raised by Tonne, it remains to be seen how the Federal Minister of Transport, Patrick Schnieder (CDU), will address the issue and provide clarity on the highway expansion planning and funding.
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