Nuremberg voters approve Frankenschnellweg expansion, ending 30-year dispute

The referendum result

An overwhelming majority of Nuremberg voters opted for the city's expansion plans in a citizen referendum on Sunday. The ballot ended a dispute that had simmered for more than 30 years and been fought through multiple courts. Mayor Marcus König (CSU) described the outcome as a settling of the long conflict. About 380,000 citizens were eligible to vote.

We will now push forward the planning we have.

What the project entails

The centrepiece of the upgrade is a 1.8-kilometre tunnel that will carry through traffic beneath the existing road. The plan also adds a third lane on the western side and new noise barriers. The city estimates the cost at more than one billion euros.

The trend is no longer reversible.

Opposition and legal battles

The citizens' initiative 'Zurück auf Los' had forced the referendum, arguing the scheme is too expensive and would attract more traffic, especially heavy goods vehicles. Courts had previously rejected several legal challenges, leaving the ballot as the group's last chance to block the project. Initiator Michael Hauck expressed disappointment but accepted the result.

Naturally we are disappointed. We will accept the outcome.

Next steps

With the referendum binding, the city will now release tenders that had been held back. Construction on the western section, including the extra lane and noise walls, is expected to begin in spring 2027. Work on the middle section is likely to follow around 2030, with the entire timeline projected at roughly ten years.