Truck route through protected area? Environmentalists sue

Bund Sachsen and several local residents have filed a lawsuit against the Free State of Saxony over the planned road construction project "Spreestraße K9281". According to the plaintiffs, the planned truck route between the former coal-fired power plant sites of Schwarze Pumpe in Brandenburg and Boxberg in Saxony endangers sensitive biotopes and threatens the habitats of protected species.

The complaint was received by the Dresden Administrative Court on July 10, a spokesperson confirmed. As the lawsuit has not yet been substantiated, the court has asked the plaintiffs to do so. According to the spokesperson, it is not yet possible to predict how long the proceedings will take at this early stage.

Around five-kilometre-long road under fire

This is a 5.2-kilometre-long road construction and expansion project. Criticism has been levelled in particular at a bridge over 500 meters long that is to run through the "Spreetal und Heiden zwischen Uhyst und Spremberg" flora and fauna habitat area, which is protected under European law. The planned route would not only cut through sensitive biotopes, but also permanently destroy the habitats of endangered species, according to a BUND statement.

Critics: "Bridge is ecological madness"

"Building a bridge in the middle of a protected area to connect expiring coal-fired power plant sites is ecological and political madness," criticizes Ursula Eichendorff, board member of the association "Eine Spinnerei - vom nachhaltigen Leben", which is supporting the lawsuit.

Béla Bélafi, President of the State Directorate of Saxony, described the project in May as a "long-awaited, efficient road link". The road between Spreewitz and Neustadt/Spree will relieve citizens of heavy traffic, said Bélafi.