The upgrade of the B25 federal road near Nördlingen takes a new turn: In the planning approval procedure for the section between Nördlingen and Möttingen, the Augsburg State Building Authority is proposing an underpass at the Großelfingen junction a underpass The reason is the confirmed presence there of the rare Montagu’s harrier. Nature conservation authorities believe elevated structures would permanently disturb the bird of prey. The planners estimate the underpass will cost around €25 million.
The latest step is part of the ongoing planning approval procedure, which is being conducted by the Government of Swabia The documents describe the Montagu’s harrier as a species at high risk of extinction in Bavaria, with a few occurrences also in the Nördlinger Ries. The technical assessment argues that bridges could reduce connectivity between breeding and hunting areas, thereby affecting breeding success and access to food. This assessment forms part of the balancing exercise under European and national species and habitat protection laws.
The plans have met with opposition in the city and district. Representatives of the City of Nördlingen and some members of the city council consider a bridge or roundabout sufficient to ease traffic, and point to lower land use and construction costs. Critics stress that, although the federal government will cover most of the additional costs, the extra land take and possible maintenance burdens will remain locally. The district group of the Donau-Ries of the Bund Naturschutz supports strict protection of the breeding sites, but considers the specific underpass proposed to be oversized in some respects and calls for proportionate solutions.
Public participation is central to the procedure: comments from public bodies, associations and members of the public are collected and reviewed, and the final decision is made by the Government of Swabia. Construction, detailed design and mitigation measures have not yet been decided; consultation hearings are usually conducted in writing and, where necessary, orally.
Beyond this specific case, the dispute raises fundamental questions about balancing road safety, costs and species protection. If the underpass is approved, it could serve as a precedent for similar conflicts in the extensive upgrade of the B25 Supporters point to planning certainty and legal certainty in nature conservation, while opponents cite long construction times, additional land sealing and consequential costs. What is certain is that the decision remains provisional until the planning approval decision is issued; legal challenges to the project would then be possible.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).