A 4 Bad Hersfeld – Erfurt [positive]

Journey with me back to 1933. The newly empowered Nazi regime, despite earlier criticisms, embraced the HaFraBa autobahn plans. They initiated the construction of the Reichsautobahn network, a project deeply intertwined with the A 4 Bad Hersfeld – Erfurt. The A 4, initially designated as several different Reichsautobahnstrecken (17, 18, and 19), became a vital artery in their vision for Germany. The first spade pierced the earth for the eastern section of the A 4 (Strecke 18) near Dresden-Neustadt on March 21, 1934. This marked the start of the “Second Labor Battle,” a nationwide initiative to build the Reichsautobahnen. By 1937, the A 4 between Jena and Dresden was open, showcasing impressive feats of engineering like the Teufelstal Bridge. This bridge, completed in 1938, was one of the world’s largest arch bridges at the time. The A 4 Bad Hersfeld – Erfurt section, specifically Strecke 79 (Eisenach-Erfurt) and Strecke 81 (Kirchheim-Eisenach), faced unique challenges. By 1940, Strecke 79 was largely open, albeit often with only one carriageway. Strecke 81, traversing hilly and forested terrain, also saw sections opened in 1940, including a two-lane stretch between Kirchheim and Sorga. World War II drastically impacted the A 4’s development. Construction slowed, and several sections remained unfinished. The Werratal Bridge near Herleshausen, started in 1939, was abandoned after a single pillar was erected. The post-war era brought further disruption. The A 4 became a transit route between West Germany and West Berlin, but the section between Wildeck and Wommen, crossing the inner German border twice, was closed. It lay abandoned, a silent testament to the division of Germany. Yet, even during the Cold War, the A 4 Bad Hersfeld – Erfurt played a role in German history. It bore witness to the increased traffic following the 1971 Transit Agreement, highlighting its strategic importance. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 ushered in a new chapter. The abandoned section in the “Thuringian Zipfel” was hastily reopened in November 1989 to accommodate the exodus of East Germans. By 1996, thanks to extensive reconstruction, the A 4 was fully open and two lanes wide between Kirchheim and Bautzen. Modernization continued. The six-lane expansion between Eisenach and Dresden, completed in the 2010s, showcases the A 4’s enduring importance. So, as you stand here, near the A 4 Bad Hersfeld – Erfurt, remember the layers of history woven into its asphalt. It’s a story of ambitious plans, wartime disruptions, Cold War divisions, and ultimately, reunification and modernization.