A20 Compromise Doesn't Just Bring Joy - A20 Motorway Extension Resumes After Landmark Bat Conservation Deal
A long-running legal battle over the A20 motorway extension near Bad Segeberg has finally reached a resolution. The CDU and the Greens struck a deal that includes stronger environmental protections, clearing the way for construction to resume. The deal comes after years of delays and disputes over wildlife conservation, particularly for local bat populations.
The conflict dates back to 2013, when the Federal Administrative Court halted the A20’s expansion near Bad Segeberg. Judges ruled that bat protection measures were insufficient, bringing construction to a standstill. Since then, the project has faced repeated setbacks, with SPD transport spokesman Niclas Dürbrook calling its history one of ‘delays, failures, and blunders’.
The deal allows the A20 extension to move forward while funding new conservation efforts. Construction can now resume, provided the agreed environmental measures are fully implemented. For local drivers and businesses, the deal promises reduced traffic and improved transport links in the coming years.
