Second attempt: Expansion of the B273 near Nauen is gaining momentum!

Second attempt: Expansion of the B273 near Nauen is gaining momentum!

The state road authority has brought a breath of fresh air into the plan for the expansion of federal highway 273 north of Nauen. The affected section extends from the junction of the L201 (Brieselanger Straße) to the entrance to Börnicke and covers around four and a half kilometers. According to maz-online.de, construction is scheduled to begin in 2028 at the earliest, as the necessary planning approval process has first been completed must be. Frank Schmidt from the state office has decided to start the necessary preparations this year.

The duration of the planning approval process is estimated to be two to two and a half years, depending on the number and type of objections submitted. A coordination meeting with media outlets recently took place regarding the location of supply lines for electricity, gas, internet, water and wastewater. The technical planning of the road has already been completed and at least three roundabouts are planned along the route to facilitate connections. These include a roundabout at the L201/B273 intersection and two others to connect the forest settlement and the road to Kienberg.

Resistance and nature conservation

The planning for the expansion is not just starting now - the designs have been working on since 2016. However, a first attempt to start construction work in the third quarter of 2021 failed. The reason is the violent protests against the tree felling that was due in winter 2021, during which more than 100 trees should have been felled. The Nature Conservation Association (Nabu) vetoed it, which led to an urgent application to the Higher Administrative Court. NABU's concerns relate to the threat to the existing avenue and to the adjacent nature conservation and FFH area “Leitsakgraben”. What was particularly criticized was that there was no planning approval process and no alternative study to preserve the trees.

The importance of nature conservation is emphasized not only by associations, but also by law. The NABU has a right to information and participation in environmentally relevant procedures, which has been anchored in Section 63 BNatSchG since 2009. This applies, among other things, to planning approval procedures, vegetation protection regulations and species protection programs. Angela Krützfeldt, the contact person at NABU, encourages all nature conservationists and environmentalists to get involved.

The path to approval

The course of the planning approval process will therefore be crucial for the future of the road project in Nauen. The relevance of citizen participation and the influence of environmental associations on planning should not be underestimated. After all, these interventions not only have an impact on the surrounding area, but also on the acceptance of the project among the population. Apart from this, legal action can also arise if critical interventions are not dealt with properly, which has already been the case with other major planning projects such as the A20.

An important element of the process also lies in municipal planning, which is often not sufficiently ecologically thought through. This can, for example, affect the seepage of rainwater. Features that can possibly be reconsidered and improved through NABU participation. The commitment of volunteers at NABU is highlighted as crucial to protecting nature.

With regard to the expansion of the B273, it remains to be seen what the next steps will be. The success and implementation of the project ultimately depends on numerous factors. But one thing is certain: the discussion about protecting natural areas will continue.

Further information about the environmental assessments can be found at bundesumweltministerium.de.