Bundesautobahn 49
Encyclopedia
is a federal motorway running through north Hesse. It connects Kassel
with the Schwalm-Eder-Kreis
, where it ends in Neuental
. The motorway is planned to be extended to Gemünden (Felda)
with a connection to A 5
.
over the river Fulda. It then continues through the communities of Edermünde
, Gudensberg
, Fritzlar
, Wabern, Borken and Neuental in the Schwalm-Eder region. Along this stretch, there are motorway viaducts over the Ems, Eder
and Schwalm rivers, the latter being bridged over twice.
At its current end in Neuental, the A 49 flows into state road 3074. As this road is not designed to handle motorway traffic, the 8.5 kilometer-long stretch between Borken and Neuental is prohibited for heavy traffic.
and Marburg
towards the Rhein-Main Region. The probable route from Neuental would be:
The last section to be opened to traffic was between the exits at Borken and Neuental
in December 1994. There has been no further extension of the A 49 since then.
The planning approval procedure for the section between Stadtallendorf
and A 5
should have been completed by 2004. The A 49 was originally intended to run through the Herrenwald forest to the east of Stadtallendorf. However, after conservationists discovered a population of Great Crested Newt
s there, the stretch through the forest became problematic, and plans were changed so that the motorway would now run evern further east around the forest.
The planning approval procedure for the section from the current motorway end near Bischhausen to Schwalmstadt was approved in September 2007 by the planning approval committee, but financing from the government has yet to be finalised. This section would cost 183 million euro. The German branch of Friends of the Earth
filed a suit against the planned extension in January 2008 before the Federal Administrative Court
in Leipzig
. However, the A 49 extension was declare immediately executable by federal law, so the complaint could not halt the possible construction work. In April 2009, BUND withdrew its complaint.
The planning approval procedure for the two further sections of Schwalmstadt-Stadtallendorf and Stadtallenddorf-A 5 are still being discussed, but a decision is expected shortly.
The A 49 was originally supposed to follow a different course: from Kassel
past Fritzlar
, Schwalmstadt
, Stadtallendorf
, Kirchhain
and Marburg
to Gießen
. Near Marburg, the A 49 would flow into the current state road 3, which has been upgraded to a freeway. From Gießen, the A 49 would have continued past Butzbach
, Bad Nauheim
and Friedberg to Frankfurt am Main, crossing Federal motorway 5 just past Butzbach. From Preungesheimer Dreieck, the A 49 would have followed the route of the current A 661
past Offenbach am Main and Egelsbach
to Darmstadt
, where it end at A 5 south of the city.
The plan now is for the A 49 to continue from its current end past Schwalmstadt and Stadtallendorf to Federal motorway 5 as quickly as possible, and thereby foregoing the previous plan to connect Kassel and Marburg with a motorway. Several section of the original A 49 have built constructed with different names: the four-lane section of Federal road 3 between Marburg and the Gießen North interchange, between Karben
and the Preungesheimer Dreieck, Bundesautobahn 485
between the Gießener Nordkreuz and Butzbach, and Bundesautobahn 661 between the Preungesheimer Dreieck and Egelsbach
.
Constructions built for the A 49 extension, such as the Egelsbach junction and a service station near Dreieich, have been dismantled. The proposed easterly by-pass of Darmstadt has been abandoned due to nature conservation issues.
Kassel
Kassel is a town located on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Kassel Regierungsbezirk and the Kreis of the same name and has approximately 195,000 inhabitants.- History :...
with the Schwalm-Eder-Kreis
Schwalm-Eder-Kreis
Schwalm-Eder is a Kreis in the north of Hesse, Germany. Neighboring districts are Kassel, Werra-Meißner, Hersfeld-Rotenburg, Vogelsbergkreis, Marburg-Biedenkopf, Waldeck-Frankenberg.-History:...
, where it ends in Neuental
Neuental
-Geography:Neuental lies in the Schwalm river valley between Borken and Schwalmstadt south of Kassel.-Constituent communities:The community consists of the eight centres of Bischhausen, Dorheim, Gilsa, Neuenhain, Römersberg, Schlierbach, Waltersbrück and Zimmersrode .-History:The community came...
. The motorway is planned to be extended to Gemünden (Felda)
Gemünden (Felda)
-Location:Gemuenden lies on the rivers Felda and Ohm, flowing from the Vogelsberg Mountains in the region of Upper Hessen amongst Homberg Grünberg, Kirtorf, Romrod and Feldatal, or more broadly, between Gießen and Bad Hersfeld...
with a connection to A 5
Bundesautobahn 5
is a 445 km long Autobahn in Germany. Its northern end is the Hattenbach triangle intersection is a 445 km (277 mi) long Autobahn in Germany. Its northern end is the Hattenbach triangle intersection is a 445 km (277 mi) long Autobahn in Germany. Its northern end is the...
.
Course
A 49 splits off from A 7 at Kreuz Kassel-Mitte and continues as a city motorway through Kassel to BaunatalBaunatal
Baunatal is a town in the district of Kassel, in Hesse, Germany. It is a comparatively young town which arose from fusion of the formerly independent municipalities Altenbauna, Altenritte, Großenritte, Guntershausen, Hertingshausen, Kirchbauna and Rengershausen in 1966.-Geographic location:Baunatal...
over the river Fulda. It then continues through the communities of Edermünde
Edermünde
Edermünde is a community in northern Hesse, Germany.-Location:Edermünde lies in the north of the Schwalm-Eder district not far southwest of Kassel. This is where the river Eder empties into the river Fulda...
, Gudensberg
Gudensberg
Gudensberg is a small town in northern Hesse, Germany. Since municipal reform in 1974, the nearby villages of Deute, Dissen, Dorla, Gleichen, Maden and Obervorschütz have been parts of the municipality.-Geography:...
, Fritzlar
Fritzlar
Fritzlar is a small German town in the Schwalm-Eder district in northern Hesse, north of Frankfurt, with a storied history. It can reasonably be argued that the town is the site where the Christianization of northern Germany began and the birthplace of the German empire as a political entity.The...
, Wabern, Borken and Neuental in the Schwalm-Eder region. Along this stretch, there are motorway viaducts over the Ems, Eder
Eder
The Eder is a 177 km long river in Germany, and a tributary of the Fulda River. It was first mentioned by the Roman historian Tacitus as the Adrana in the territory of the Chatti....
and Schwalm rivers, the latter being bridged over twice.
At its current end in Neuental, the A 49 flows into state road 3074. As this road is not designed to handle motorway traffic, the 8.5 kilometer-long stretch between Borken and Neuental is prohibited for heavy traffic.
Planned extension
For decades, there have been wranglings over a 42.5 km extension of the A 49 from Neuental southwards to ease traffic on the A 7 and better serve the cities of KasselKassel
Kassel is a town located on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Kassel Regierungsbezirk and the Kreis of the same name and has approximately 195,000 inhabitants.- History :...
and Marburg
Marburg
Marburg is a city in the state of Hesse, Germany, on the River Lahn. It is the main town of the Marburg-Biedenkopf district and its population, as of March 2010, was 79,911.- Founding and early history :...
towards the Rhein-Main Region. The probable route from Neuental would be:
- SchwalmstadtSchwalmstadtSchwalmstadt is the largest town in the Schwalm-Eder district, in northern Hesse, Germany. It was established only in 1970 with the amalgamation of the towns of Treysa and Ziegenhain together with some outlying villages to form the town of Schwalmstadt.-Location:Schwalmstadt lies in the Schwalm...
- Neustadt (Hessen)
- StadtallendorfStadtallendorfStadtallendorf is a town in Marburg-Biedenkopf, Hesse, Germany, which lies about east of Marburg.- Location :Under the German system of Naturräume, Stadtallendorf lies in the West Hesse Depression Zone which is divided into basins and ridges...
- A 5Bundesautobahn 5is a 445 km long Autobahn in Germany. Its northern end is the Hattenbach triangle intersection is a 445 km (277 mi) long Autobahn in Germany. Its northern end is the Hattenbach triangle intersection is a 445 km (277 mi) long Autobahn in Germany. Its northern end is the...
near Gemünden (Felda)
The last section to be opened to traffic was between the exits at Borken and Neuental
Neuental
-Geography:Neuental lies in the Schwalm river valley between Borken and Schwalmstadt south of Kassel.-Constituent communities:The community consists of the eight centres of Bischhausen, Dorheim, Gilsa, Neuenhain, Römersberg, Schlierbach, Waltersbrück and Zimmersrode .-History:The community came...
in December 1994. There has been no further extension of the A 49 since then.
The planning approval procedure for the section between Stadtallendorf
Stadtallendorf
Stadtallendorf is a town in Marburg-Biedenkopf, Hesse, Germany, which lies about east of Marburg.- Location :Under the German system of Naturräume, Stadtallendorf lies in the West Hesse Depression Zone which is divided into basins and ridges...
and A 5
Bundesautobahn 5
is a 445 km long Autobahn in Germany. Its northern end is the Hattenbach triangle intersection is a 445 km (277 mi) long Autobahn in Germany. Its northern end is the Hattenbach triangle intersection is a 445 km (277 mi) long Autobahn in Germany. Its northern end is the...
should have been completed by 2004. The A 49 was originally intended to run through the Herrenwald forest to the east of Stadtallendorf. However, after conservationists discovered a population of Great Crested Newt
Great Crested Newt
The Great Crested Newt, also called Northern Crested Newt or Warty Newt is a newt in the family Salamandridae, found across Europe and parts of Asia.-Distribution:...
s there, the stretch through the forest became problematic, and plans were changed so that the motorway would now run evern further east around the forest.
The planning approval procedure for the section from the current motorway end near Bischhausen to Schwalmstadt was approved in September 2007 by the planning approval committee, but financing from the government has yet to be finalised. This section would cost 183 million euro. The German branch of Friends of the Earth
Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland
Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland is a German non-governmental organisation dedicated to preserving nature and protecting the environment. The german title would be translated to something like Union for the environment and nature conservation Germany...
filed a suit against the planned extension in January 2008 before the Federal Administrative Court
Federal Administrative Court of Germany
The Federal Administrative Court is one of the five federal supreme courts of Germany. It is the court of the last resort for generally all cases of administrative law, mainly disputes between citizens and the state...
in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
. However, the A 49 extension was declare immediately executable by federal law, so the complaint could not halt the possible construction work. In April 2009, BUND withdrew its complaint.
The planning approval procedure for the two further sections of Schwalmstadt-Stadtallendorf and Stadtallenddorf-A 5 are still being discussed, but a decision is expected shortly.
The A 49 was originally supposed to follow a different course: from Kassel
Kassel
Kassel is a town located on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Kassel Regierungsbezirk and the Kreis of the same name and has approximately 195,000 inhabitants.- History :...
past Fritzlar
Fritzlar
Fritzlar is a small German town in the Schwalm-Eder district in northern Hesse, north of Frankfurt, with a storied history. It can reasonably be argued that the town is the site where the Christianization of northern Germany began and the birthplace of the German empire as a political entity.The...
, Schwalmstadt
Schwalmstadt
Schwalmstadt is the largest town in the Schwalm-Eder district, in northern Hesse, Germany. It was established only in 1970 with the amalgamation of the towns of Treysa and Ziegenhain together with some outlying villages to form the town of Schwalmstadt.-Location:Schwalmstadt lies in the Schwalm...
, Stadtallendorf
Stadtallendorf
Stadtallendorf is a town in Marburg-Biedenkopf, Hesse, Germany, which lies about east of Marburg.- Location :Under the German system of Naturräume, Stadtallendorf lies in the West Hesse Depression Zone which is divided into basins and ridges...
, Kirchhain
Kirchhain
Kirchhain is a town in Marburg-Biedenkopf district in Hesse, Germany.-Geography:Kirchhain is located in the heart of the state of Hesse in Marburg-Biedenkopf County...
and Marburg
Marburg
Marburg is a city in the state of Hesse, Germany, on the River Lahn. It is the main town of the Marburg-Biedenkopf district and its population, as of March 2010, was 79,911.- Founding and early history :...
to Gießen
Gießen
Gießen, also spelt Giessen is a town in the German federal state of Hesse, capital of both the district of Gießen and the administrative region of Gießen...
. Near Marburg, the A 49 would flow into the current state road 3, which has been upgraded to a freeway. From Gießen, the A 49 would have continued past Butzbach
Butzbach
Butzbach is a town in the Wetteraukreis district in Hesse, Germany. It is located approx. 16 km south of Gießen and 35 km north of Frankfurt am Main....
, Bad Nauheim
Bad Nauheim
Bad Nauheim is a town in the Wetteraukreis district of Hesse state of Germany. , Bad Nauheim has a population of 30,365. The town is located approximately 35 kilometers north of Frankfurt am Main, on the east edge of the Taunus mountain range. It is a world-famous resort, noted for its salt...
and Friedberg to Frankfurt am Main, crossing Federal motorway 5 just past Butzbach. From Preungesheimer Dreieck, the A 49 would have followed the route of the current A 661
Bundesautobahn 661
- also called Osttangente Frankfurt or Taunusschnellweg - is a 40 km long Autobahn in Germany. It starts in Oberursel and goes along Bad Homburg, Frankfurt am Main, Offenbach am Main and Neu-Isenburg until it is ending in Egelsbach.The today's A 661 were opened with section Bad Homburg ...
past Offenbach am Main and Egelsbach
Egelsbach
Egelsbach is a community of 10,000 in the Offenbach district in the Regierungsbezirk of Darmstadt in Hesse, Germany.- Location :Egelsbach is one of 13 communities in the Offenbach district...
to Darmstadt
Darmstadt
Darmstadt is a city in the Bundesland of Hesse in Germany, located in the southern part of the Rhine Main Area.The sandy soils in the Darmstadt area, ill-suited for agriculture in times before industrial fertilisation, prevented any larger settlement from developing, until the city became the seat...
, where it end at A 5 south of the city.
The plan now is for the A 49 to continue from its current end past Schwalmstadt and Stadtallendorf to Federal motorway 5 as quickly as possible, and thereby foregoing the previous plan to connect Kassel and Marburg with a motorway. Several section of the original A 49 have built constructed with different names: the four-lane section of Federal road 3 between Marburg and the Gießen North interchange, between Karben
Karben
Karben is a town in the Wetteraukreis, in Hesse, Germany. It is situated on the banks of the river Nidda in the Rhein-Main-Gebiet , approx...
and the Preungesheimer Dreieck, Bundesautobahn 485
Bundesautobahn 485
is an autobahn in Germany.The A 485 is an eastern bypass of the town of Gießen. Between junctions 1 and 7, it is the eastern leg of the Gießener Ring....
between the Gießener Nordkreuz and Butzbach, and Bundesautobahn 661 between the Preungesheimer Dreieck and Egelsbach
Egelsbach
Egelsbach is a community of 10,000 in the Offenbach district in the Regierungsbezirk of Darmstadt in Hesse, Germany.- Location :Egelsbach is one of 13 communities in the Offenbach district...
.
Constructions built for the A 49 extension, such as the Egelsbach junction and a service station near Dreieich, have been dismantled. The proposed easterly by-pass of Darmstadt has been abandoned due to nature conservation issues.
External links
- Planungsstand der A 49 des Amtes für Straßen- und Verkehrswesen in Kassel
- http://www.gps-kassel.de/touren/kartegross/a49.kmz der geplanten Streckenführung Neuental-Schwalmstadt
- Gemeinschaft gegen den Weiterbau der A49 von Neuental nach Gemünden