A39 autobahn

A39 autobahn
Name	A39 autobahn
Country	Germany
Route	A39
Length km	57
Established	1970s

A39 autobahn is a north–south motorway in northern Germany connecting the ports, industrial centres, and university cities of Lower Saxony, running mainly between Salzgitter and Wolfsburg with links toward Braunschweig and Lüneburg. The route serves as a strategic freight corridor for automotive and chemical industries, facilitating links between the Port of Hamburg, the Volkswagen Group plants, and inland rail terminals. It intersects several major arteries, including the A2 Autobahn, the A7 Autobahn, and national highways, integrating regional traffic with trans-European networks such as the E-road network.

Route description

The motorway begins near Salzgitter at an interchange with regional roads and runs northeast toward Braunschweig, skirting the edge of the Harz foothills before continuing to Wolfsburg adjacent to the Mittelland Canal. Along its course the A39 crosses the Oker river basin, passes near the University of Göttingen satellite facilities, and provides access to industrial zones in Gifhorn and Peine. Major interchanges include connections to the A7 Autobahn at a junction serving long-distance north–south traffic and to the A2 Autobahn enabling east–west flows toward Berlin and Hannover. The motorway includes several bridges and viaducts over waterways linked to the Elbe catchment and runs parallel in parts to the regional railway lines of the Deutsche Bahn network.

History

Planning for the corridor that became the motorway dates to post-war reconstruction efforts linking industrial centres in Lower Saxony and supporting the expansion of the Volkswagen Group after World War II. Early proposals appeared in regional transport plans during the 1950s and 1960s, with construction phases commencing in the 1970s amid debates in the Bundestag over federal infrastructure priorities. Sections opened progressively, reflecting priorities set by the Federal Ministry of Transport and local authorities in Niedersachsen. The route has been subject to litigation and public consultation involving stakeholders such as municipal governments in Salzgitter and environmental groups active in the Harz region.

Construction and upgrades

Initial construction involved earthworks to traverse glacial deposits and river floodplains, with major contracts awarded to engineering firms experienced in motorway design. Upgrades in the 1990s and 2000s included lane widening near Wolfsburg to accommodate commuter and goods traffic serving the Autostadt and the main Volkswagen plant, along with pavement rehabilitation projects coordinated with the Bundesanstalt für Straßenwesen. Bridge refurbishments addressed load requirements for heavy transport from the Port of Hamburg and intermodal terminals. Recent works have introduced noise barriers, stormwater management systems compliant with European Union directives, and intelligent transport systems interoperable with regional traffic control centres in Braunschweig.

Junctions and exits

Key junctions provide access to urban centres and industrial sites: an interchange serving Salzgitter connects to federal roads toward Hildesheim; a mid-route junction links to Peine and freight terminals; and the northern terminus interfaces with urban streets in Wolfsburg adjacent to the Wolfsburg Hauptbahnhof. Several exits provide direct routes to research institutions such as facilities affiliated with the Technische Universität Braunschweig and business parks housing suppliers to the automotive industry. Emergency lay-bys, rest areas, and service facilities are distributed according to standards set by national motorway regulations managed by the Landesbetrieb für Straßenbau of Lower Saxony.

Traffic and usage

Traffic patterns reflect a mix of commuter flows to industrial employment centres, long-haul freight movements, and seasonal tourist traffic bound for recreational areas near the Harz and the Lüneburg Heath. Freight volumes spike with automotive supply chains tied to the Volkswagen Group production schedule and with container traffic from the Port of Hamburg transshipped inland. Peak congestion occurs at commuter rush hours and during holiday periods, stressing junctions that link to the A2 Autobahn and regional highways toward Hannover and Berlin. The motorway supports intermodal logistics by connecting to rail freight terminals operated by companies within the Deutsche Bahn freight division.

Environmental and social impact

Construction and operation affected habitats in riparian zones and heathland near the route, drawing attention from conservation organisations such as local chapters of national NGOs and stakeholders in the Harz National Park buffer areas. Noise, air quality, and landscape fragmentation have been central concerns for communities in Gifhorn and Peine, prompting mitigation measures including acoustic walls and wildlife crossings. Social impacts include changes in commuter patterns, economic benefits to suppliers and service sectors in Wolfsburg and Salzgitter, and land-use adjustments in peri-urban municipalities. Environmental assessments have referenced EU habitat protection directives and state-level planning statutes administered by the Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Umwelt.

Future plans and extensions

Plans under discussion involve capacity increases at key interchanges, potential northern extensions to improve links toward Lüneburg and the Elbe crossings, and enhanced multimodal integration with proposals for freight transfer facilities coordinated with the Port of Hamburg expansion strategies. Proposals are subject to environmental review, financing agreements involving federal and state authorities, and public consultation with municipal governments and transport agencies including the Verkehrsverbund Großraum Braunschweig. Advances in traffic management envisage deployment of connected infrastructure compatible with autonomous vehicle trials conducted in collaboration with regional research centres and industry partners.

Category:Autobahns in Germany