A28 (Germany)

A28 (Germany) is an autobahn in the German state of Lower Saxony linking the vicinity of Leer to the Ruhr area approaches near Bremen and connecting with the A1 and A31. The route serves as a regional artery between the Emsland and the Weser-Ems region, integrating with federal corridors that include the B70 and B212. It supports freight flows from the North Sea Port and passenger traffic toward the Metropolitan region Bremen/Oldenburg.

Route description

The autobahn begins near the junction with the A31 south of Leer and runs eastward across the Ems floodplain, passing the towns of Weener, Papenburg, Rhede and Meppen before curving toward Oldenburg. From Oldenburg the A28 continues east, crossing the Hunte and skirting the northern edge of Delmenhorst to meet the A1 near Bremen. Major interchanges provide access to the A29 toward Wilhelmshaven and to regional roads serving Aurich, Cloppenburg, Vechta and the Emsland industrial zones. The corridor traverses low-lying marshland, engineered causeways, and numerous bridges such as those spanning the Ems and the Jümme tributary, and intersects rail corridors including the Emsland Railway and the Oldenburg–Leer railway.

History

Early planning for an east–west connection in northwestern Germany dates from the interwar period and was revived in the post‑World War II reconstruction by West German transport planners influenced by projects like the Autobahn Reichsautobahn network and subsequent federal road laws. Construction phases in the 1970s and 1980s extended existing federal roads such as the B70 and B212 into limited‑access standards, with major openings near Oldenburg and Delmenhorst achieved during the Wirtschaftswunder era infrastructure boom. Later upgrades and completions tied to European freight policy linked the A28 to transEuropean networks championed by institutions like the European Union and were influenced by regional advocacy from the Lower Saxony Ministry. Environmental reviews involving the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation and mitigation measures near the Wadden Sea National Parks shaped alignments, while financing involved federal funding mechanisms and debates in the Bundestag and regional assemblies in Lower Saxony.

Junctions and interchanges

Key junctions include the western terminus with the A31 near Leer, an interchange with the A29 providing access to Wilhelmshaven and the JadeWeserPort, and the eastern junction with the A1 toward Bremen and Hamburg. Other notable interchanges connect to the B437 at Oldenburg, the B213 near Delmenhorst, and regional nodes that serve Papenburg, Weener and industrial estates serving Siemens suppliers and shipbuilding yards tied to Lürssen and Germanischer Lloyd certified facilities. Several service areas and logistics parks adjacent to the A28 link to rail terminals on the Leer–Groningen railway corridor and to ferry services for the Ems estuary crossings.

Traffic and usage

Traffic on the A28 comprises a mix of long‑distance freight, regional commercial traffic, and commuter flows into Oldenburg and the Bremen metropolitan region. Freight movements include container flows to and from the North Sea ports and heavy vehicle traffic related to the automotive industry supply chains serving manufacturers in Lower Saxony and the Ruhr area. Seasonal peaks occur during holiday periods linked to the North Sea tourism circuit, affecting links with the A1 and the A29. Traffic monitoring and control are coordinated by regional traffic centres working with the Federal Highway Research Institute and local law enforcement including the Lower Saxony Police, using gantry signage and variable speed limits on sections prone to congestion.

Future developments and upgrades

Planned projects include lane widening at bottleneck interchanges near Oldenburg and the implementation of intelligent transport systems supported by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure to improve freight reliability and reduce emissions. Environmental mitigation measures under consideration involve collaboration with the Lower Saxony State Office for Water Management, Coastal Defence and Nature Conservation and adaptations for climate resilience related to rising groundwater and storm surge risk impacting lowland sections near the Ems River. Proposals for additional logistic hubs aim to integrate the A28 with inland waterway terminals on the Ems and rail freight terminals at Oldenburg and Leer, backed by funding discussions in the Bundestag and planning authorities in Lower Saxony.

Category:Autobahns in Germany Category:Roads in Lower Saxony