Meridiam commissions the A49 motorway, a vital North-South link in Germany

Meridiam and its partner Strabag commissioned today the new A49 motorway located in the German State of Hesse, northeast of Frankfurt. This 30-year concession project, which required an investment of around €1 billion is a critical transport corridor to Germany’s main north-south axis. The project has been developed under an availability-based PPP framework by the German government, represented by Die Autobahn GmbH des Bundes, represented by DEGES Deutsche Einheit Fernstraßenplanungs- und -bau GmbH.

Stretching over 61km in total length, 31 of which have been completely new-built, A49 now provides an improved road connection between the regional centres of Kassel and Frankfurt. It serves as an important link for the local communities and businesses to the German motorway network, thus fostering economic and social development. It also contributes to alleviate traffic congestion in villages and city centers along the existing local roads.

True to its commitment to environmental preservation, compensatory and replacement measures covering 750 hectares were implemented in connection with the construction of this motorway. These included ten new ponds for great crested newts, 2.8 hectares of biotopes for sand lizards, almost 5.9 km recultivated watercourses and the conversion of more than 320 hectares into near natural forests and meadows. The motorway is also flanked by 2.5m to 4m high fences along almost its entire length. Fences not only serve to protect larger animals but also work as an orientation aid for bats encouraging them to fly higher and protect them from fatal collisions with motor vehicles. In addition, the motorway was landscaped with green embankments, culverts for lizards, newts and frogs and a green bridge for wild animals so that they can safely cross to the other side.

The construction of A49 included the recycling and reuse of circa 2.6 million m3 of excavated materials. Where the project route crosses water protection zones the entire motorway and rainwater retention basins have been sealed with more than 120,000 m2 of a synthetic membrane.

Additional initiatives to support and protect nature and local communities included dust reducing measures (e.g. water trucks) as well as optimizations of the construction schedule and connection points between the motorway and the local road network with the aim to improve local traffic flows.