Construction timeline set for 16th phase extension of A100 highway in Berlin

The Elsenbrücke, a crucial part of Berlin's A100 motorway, is set to open on August 27, 2025, but its full completion is not expected until 2028. Originally budgeted at around 430 million euros, the project has since grown significantly, with total costs now estimated at approximately 720 million euros, making it the most expensive motorway section in Germany.

The 3.2-kilometer section, connecting the Neukölln motorway junction with Treptower Park, has faced several challenges during construction. Delivery bottlenecks with electronic traffic signal bridges have caused delays, and the complex construction form has increased costs. As a result, the Elsenbrücke is not expected to provide the desired traffic relief effects until its full completion in 2028.

Upon opening, the Elsenbrücke will be a busy thoroughfare, with nearly 70,000 vehicles passing daily. However, the temporary bridge offers a maximum capacity of around 25,000 vehicles, potentially leading to significant traffic congestion. The Treptower Park interchange, where the A100 will end, is expected to see up to 55,000 vehicles per day.

The first major stress test for the new junction is expected to occur after the end of the holidays in the second week of September. Critics warn of potential urban traffic chaos due to the opening of the 16th section of the A100. The new section runs predominantly in a deep trough up to seven meters deep and includes a 400-meter tunnel section.

The A100 will end at Treptower Park in the future, connecting another central axis in the Berlin transport network. The impact of the new traffic situation on the streets around the northwest part of Treptower Park will become apparent in the first weeks after the opening of the 16th section.

The sources for this information include Action Alliance A100 Stop, Senate Department for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection and Environment, Federal Highway Authority, RBB, and Berliner Morgenpost. The Elsenbrücke, still under construction until 2028, could become a bottleneck, leaving central traffic relief effects unrealized until its full completion.