Germany A143 motorway costs double to 726 million euros

The construction costs for a 13-kilometer section of the A143 motorway near Halle in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, have more than doubled. Originally estimated at approximately 350 million euros when construction began in 2019, the project is now projected to cost 726 million euros, exceeding 55 million euros per kilometer.

Due to these rising costs, the opening of the motorway section has been delayed from 2025 to 2030. The project has been included in the German Taxpayers Federation’s ‘Black Book’ for 2026/27, which highlights instances of irresponsible or poorly controlled public spending.

Technical challenges contributing to the delay and cost increases include the route passing through former mining areas, the Saale River, and protected natural zones, requiring numerous bridges and tunnels. Critics note that these complexities were known prior to the start of construction, raising questions regarding the accuracy of the initial budget estimates.