A20 Expansion Amid Lawsuit: An Update on Schleswig-Holstein's Highway Project
Controversy Persists: Upcoming Development Plans for A20 Roadway - Inquiry about the current status of the A20, despite the raised objection.
An environmental powerhouse is locking horns against the expansion of the coastal highway A20 in Schleswig-Holstein, while another refrains from joining the fray. The region's Minister of Transport, Claus Ruhe Madsen, is championing for swift action on the project. "Following my initial tête-à-tête with the association honchos, I sense that even the conservationists don't intend to obstruct the highway through ideological ways," said the vocal CDU politician.
The German Federation for Environment and Nature Conservation, famously known as BUND, is ready to wage war at the Federal Administrative Court. They argue that environmental concerns and the exploration of alternative solutions have been insufficiently addressed, and that procedural loopholes in construction law have been uncovered. "We're open to back-room diplomacy," stated the state chairman, Dietmar Ulbrich.
However, the environmentally-conscious organization, NABU, is steering clear of a lawsuit. "The detrimental environmental and climate impact of the A20 is indisputable," said the state chairman, Alexander Schwarzlose. He added, "Even the proposed protective and compensatory measures don't fundamentally alter the situation." The planned bat-friendly crossings are proposed at less-than-ideal locations, and critical spots are left missing entirely. Moreover, the project threatens several rare calcareous spring sources.
Interestingly, the current decision appears less damaging than the previous planning for the Segeberg section. "At several points, it remains questionable whether the planning adheres to the provisions of environmental law," the association asserted.
No smoking gun violations of legal provisions have been discovered by NABU. "We trust that Minister Madsen will keep his word and engage in discussions about necessary nature conservation enhancements, even without a lawsuit," said Schwarzlose.
A truce by November?
Preliminary work for the southern bypass of Bad Segeberg could commence this year, as BUND is forgoing the interim injunction, the ministry announced. "This means that the plan approval decision for the ten-kilometer Segeberg section is now enforceable, provided there are no other lawsuits blocking immediate implementation," said Madsen. "However, since the deadline for possible additional lawsuits only ends in May, we'll only have definitive assurance then."
By November, BUND, the infrastructure firm Deges, the Federal Highway Authority, and the state aim to hammer out an out-of-court settlement. Between now and then, the highway company and Deges will suspend construction activities - save for the so-called species protection preliminary measures, said Madsen. Both parties are aiming for a compromise that preserves bat life and the patience of the residents in and around Bad Segeberg, who have been wrangling with this issue for decades.
Construction on the A20 was halted east of Bad Segeberg over a decade ago. In 2013, the Federal Administrative Court nixed any further progress, citing inadequate protection of bats. The Segeberg limestone caves are Germany's largest bat hibernation sites. In mid-March, the Office for Plan Approval issued construction guidelines for the ten-kilometer bypass around Bad Segeberg.
As a consequence of the ruling, tunnels or guiding structures like protective walls will be required to prevent bats from colliding with trucks. A tenth of the anticipated €465 million construction cost for this section is dedicated to addressing nature conservation concerns, according to Deges.
- Continue construction
- Schleswig-Holstein
- BUND
- Bad Segeberg
- Federal Administrative Court
- Nature Conservation Association Germany
- Environment
- Environmental Association
- CDU
- The German Federation for Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND), based in Schleswig-Holstein, is planning to bring a lawsuit against the expansion of the coastal highway A20, arguing that environmental concerns weren't adequately addressed and procedural loopholes in construction law were uncovered.
- On the other hand, the Nature Conservation Association Germany (NABU) is not opting for a lawsuit, stating the detrimental environmental and climate impact of the A20 as indisputable, and that the proposed protective and compensatory measures don't significantly address the issue.
- The CDU politician, Claus Ruhe Madsen, is encouraging dialogue for necessary nature conservation enhancements with all parties involved, including environmental organizations like BUND and NABU.
- Meanwhile, despite the ongoing lawsuits and environmental concerns, construction on the A20 in Schleswig-Holstein is expected to continue, with a focus on implementing tunnels and guiding structures to protect bat life, as stipulated by the Office for Plan Approval.
