A71 and Railway Lines: Many Construction Sites Planned for Thuringia - Thuringia’s 2026 Travel Chaos: Major Road and Rail Upgrades Ahead
Major road and rail upgrades are set to disrupt travel across Thuringia in 2026. Projects will include tunnel renovations, track renewals and motorway expansions. Authorities have warned of delays but promise long-term improvements for drivers and passengers alike.
The A71 autobahn will see extensive work, with the Schmücke Tunnel undergoing renovation in stages—one tube at a time. Nearby, the Eichelberg Tunnel and sections of the A4 between Ronneburg and the Saxon border are due for completion by mid-2026. Additional rest stops and expanded truck parking will also be added along the A4 to ease congestion.
Between 2026 and 2032, the A4 will undergo phased widening and bridge replacements near Bad Langensalza, while a second carriageway and noise barriers will be built between Hermsdorf and Gera. The Kreuz Erfurt/Weimar junction will receive full pavement renewal and upgraded interchanges from 2027. Safety improvements, such as better barriers and emergency lanes, will run alongside routine maintenance, with night and weekend closures planned to minimise disruption.
Rail passengers will face changes too. The Franconia-Saxony trunk line between Altenburg and Neukieritzsch will have track and switch renewals in April 2026. The Weimar–Gera–Gößnitz route enters the next phase of its modernisation, with electrification works finishing between Weimar and Apolda by 2026 and continuing toward Gera until 2028. Stations at Weimar, Apolda, Bad Köstritz and Gera will see platform upgrades and accessibility improvements by 2029. New signalling systems and level crossing upgrades will also roll out across the Sangerhausen-Nordhausen and Wolkramshausen-Leinefelde lines, while Themar and Mühlhausen stations are scheduled for refurbishment in mid-2026.
Nationwide, up to 28,000 rail construction sites are planned for 2026, focusing on renewal and modernisation. The Halle–Eichenberg corridor will receive signal and track upgrades, further affecting regional services.
The projects aim to boost capacity and safety on both roads and railways. Drivers on the A4 and A71 can expect temporary closures and detours, while rail passengers may face replacement buses during key phases. Funding comes from federal and state budgets, with works staged to keep essential routes open where possible.
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