Aschersleben/Bernburg. The Salzland district has taken over the federal highway 180 between Mehringer Straße in Aschersleben and the district border with Mansfeld-Südharz. Now the inner-local section of the road is to be rehabilitated with financial assistance from the federal government. In this context, the district administration and the town of Aschersleben want to build new cycle paths and footpaths, bus stops and street lighting. A planning agreement to this effect was signed by District Administrator Markus Bauer and Aschersleben Mayor Steffen Amme in Bernburg on Wednesday.
District Administrator Markus Bauer explained that with the new bypass between Aschersleben and Quenstedt in the district of Mansfeld-Südharz, the previous federal highway will lose its previous significance. "We have not just taken over the B 180 federal road. We want to upgrade it in line with our Salzlandkreis 2030 strategy for the future by also creating opportunities for sustainable mobility. This is particularly important for the Salzland district as an attractive residential and business location, because only if people live and work here will they be available to society, for example in voluntary work."
Aschersleben's Lord Mayor Steffen Amme said: "The project is of particular importance for the town because it is important for many citizens to be able to get to the hospital safely on foot or by bike. That's why we were prepared to work together with the Salzland district right from the start. The signing of the contract shows that we are now tackling the project together."
The costs for the planning and the subsequent renovation and upgrading of the carriageway will be covered by the federal government as part of a cost-sharing programme, as explained by Tilo Wechselberger, the head of the district development department. The construction of the cycle path and the renewal of the two bus stops will be realised by the Salzland district with funding, while the pavements and lighting are the responsibility of the town. The new district road is three kilometres long, the length of the planned extension section in the town centre is 664 metres. The Salzland district has so far estimated the cost at around 2.6 million euros. An exact cost estimate will only be possible after the preliminary investigation. The district road network will thus grow to 370 kilometres.
As soon as the new bypass between Aschersleben and Quenstedt is completed, the former federal road 180 will be routed as district road 2331. According to current plans, the new bypass from the Aschersleben/West motorway exit to Quenstedt via the B180n federal road, which is around nine kilometres long, should be completed in the second quarter of 2026.
District Administrator Markus Bauer: "We are continuing to invest in our infrastructure in order to improve the framework conditions for everyone." He thanked the federal government, the state and the town of Aschersleben for their cooperation. The Salzland district will assume overall responsibility. This division has proven itself more than once in recent years with projects such as the fibre optic expansion, the renovation of the R1 and the construction of the Saalesteganlagen. "We are once again seeing how successfully the municipal family can work together."