Drivers can now travel the whole way between Chemnitz and Leipzig on the final route of the Autobahn 72 (A72) for the first time, after another section south of Leipzig was finished. MDR, the regional public broadcaster, reports that the newly completed carriageway between Rötha and Zwenkau opened on Thursday, although the road is not fully finished yet.
What happened
According to MDR, which cites the Autobahn GmbH (the federal company that runs Germany’s motorways), the carriageway towards Leipzig between the Anschlussstellen (motorway junctions) Rötha and Zwenkau has been completed. Until now, traffic on this stretch had been routed provisionally onto the opposite carriageway.
Since Thursday, cars can drive from Chemnitz to Leipzig entirely on the permanent motorway route. This is the last section of the A72 still under construction. The motorway runs from the Vogtland, the region in the far south-west of Saxony, via Chemnitz to the Autobahnkreuz Leipzig-Süd, the motorway interchange south of the city. MDR notes that work on the new route began in 2006.
What it means for you
If you drive between Leipzig and Chemnitz, or commute from towns such as Rötha and Zwenkau in the Leipziger Land district south of the city, you now use the finished route. Expect a narrow road for now, though. The carriageway towards Chemnitz still needs more work, so MDR reports that all traffic on this section runs on the newly finished side, with one lane in each direction.
In practice, that means less room to overtake and a higher chance of delays if there is a breakdown or an accident on the single lanes. Leave extra time at busy hours, follow the signs closely around Rötha and Zwenkau, and check current traffic information before you set off.
MDR also links to a separate report saying that some A38 and A72 connections near Leipzig are closed until November because of construction. If you use the junctions south of Leipzig, look up which ramps are affected before you travel, as your usual exit or entry point may not be open.
What to watch next
The Autobahn GmbH told MDR that work on the Chemnitz-bound carriageway will continue next year. Plans include laying Flüsterasphalt (low-noise “whisper” asphalt) and putting up noise barriers. A car park with toilets is also due to be built along the route.
According to MDR, the A72 is due to open in full next year, in 2027. Until then, the single-lane arrangement between Rötha and Zwenkau stays in place. People living near the motorway may want to follow the plans for the noise barriers and low-noise surface, which are meant to reduce traffic noise once they are in place.
If you are new to driving in Germany, the Autobahn GmbH publishes construction and closure information for the motorways it manages. Checking it, or a live traffic service, is the most reliable way to find out about lane changes and closures on the A72 and A38 while the work goes on.
Source: MDR
Sources
- MDR: Letztes Teilstück der A72 bei Leipzig fertiggestellt, accessed 15 October 2026
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