Berlin's A100: The German federal government advocates for the Spree bridge as the location for the 17th stage

The A100 project, which includes the extension to Storkower Straße, is moving forward as the federal government has completed the 16th section at Treptower Park and is committed to the full implementation of the project. The 4.1-kilometer route will lead from Treptow through Friedrichshain to Lichtenberg.

Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) supports the further expansion of the A100, seeing it as crucial for making Berlin's traffic future-proof. Wegner has expressed his gratitude for the federal government's commitment to the 17th section of the A100, which was approved by the Bundestag years ago.

The preferred solution for the Spree crossing of the A100, between Treptower Park and Ostkreuz, is a bridge rather than a tunnel. This decision is based on cost-effectiveness and functional benefits. The bridge solution allows for an additional motorway junction at Ostkreuz, which helps to direct traffic from city streets to the motorway, and is expected to take about two years for detailed planning before the approval procedure can start.

The goal of consistently redirecting traffic from city streets to the highway could not be achieved with a tunnel at the Spree crossing. A tunnel would facilitate direct passage but would not allow for an additional interchange at Ostkreuz.

Supporters of the A100 project see a chance to shift traffic from neighborhoods onto the motorway, easing congestion in the city. Federal Minister of Transport Patrick Schnieder believes that the current situation at Treptower Park is not sustainable in the long term.

However, critics of the A100 project express reservations about the additional strain on the surroundings. The federal government aims to present a city-friendly solution for the future route of the A100 this year.

Michael Güntner, Managing Director of the Autobahn GmbH, believes that the full implementation of the 17th section of the A100 is necessary for sustainable traffic relief in eastern Berlin. The opening of the 16th section of the A100 is considered progress by Wegner, who sees it as a step towards a more efficient and sustainable traffic system in the city.

Detailed planning for the bridge solution is expected to take about two more years, after which the approval procedure can begin. The federal government intends to promptly extend the A100 to Storkower Straße to fully utilize the traffic benefits of the new section.

Berlin's A100: The German federal government advocates for the Spree bridge as the location for the 17th stage