Another Section of the A72 Near Leipzig Completed

The final section of Highway 72 continues to take shape. As of Thursday, cars can now travel the entire distance from Chemnitz to Leipzig on the permanent highway route for the first time, according to Autobahn GmbH. Between the Rötha and Zwenkau interchanges, the lane heading toward Leipzig has been completed. Until now, traffic there had been temporarily routed via the opposite lane.

However, the completion of this section does not yet mean unimpeded travel: Because construction is still needed on the lane heading toward Chemnitz, all traffic is currently restricted to a single lane in each direction on the now-completed side of the highway. According to Autobahn GmbH, “low-noise asphalt” must still be laid and noise barriers erected on the section heading toward Chemnitz next year. A parking lot with restrooms is also still to be built.

Final completion planned for 2027

The highway is expected to be fully completed by late summer 2027, officials said. It runs from the Vogtland region through Chemnitz to the Leipzig-Süd interchange.

The A72 is a long-term project. Many years ago, plans called for the highway between Chemnitz and Leipzig to be completed in time for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. However, there were repeated delays—most recently due, among other things, to difficult ground conditions over a landfill site. However, all work is scheduled to be completed next year, Autobahn GmbH announced. A ceremonial handover of the entire final section is also planned for then.