- Roadway 27 Temporarily Closed due to Protests - Unfavorable Judicial Comments
Sure, let's rephrase this story:
During an eco-protest, the authorities temporarily shut down the A27 highway between Bremen junction and Achim Nord exit for close to an hour. According to police reports, roughly five kilometers of roadway at Bremen junction were affected. Activists scaled down a bridge over the A27 at noon and hung several banners. As per a police spokesperson, six individuals were on the bridge.
The closure led to significant traffic disruptions and, in the words of a police spokesperson, a six-kilometer traffic jam. At the tail end of this jam, heading towards Bremen, there was an accident involving three vehicles, one of which rolled over. Four individuals sustained minor injuries, the police spokesperson mentioned later in the day. The A27 was then temporarily closed between Achim Ost and Langwedel for the recovery and cleanup operations.
Judicial viewpoints on highway closures differ
Legal battles arose surrounding the protest action. Initially, the activists planned to abseil from the bridge with ongoing traffic, but the city of Achim banned this due to safety concerns, permitting a demonstration on the bridge instead. The activists took their case to the Stade Administrative Court, which mandated a one-hour highway closure for the event. Later, the city won an appeal at the Lower Saxony Higher Administrative Court (OVG) to reduce the action to half an hour.**
Later in a statement, the OVG stressed that they did not endorse the Stade court's perspective. "To balance the affected fundamental rights, it wasn't necessary to mandate a full closure of the A27," the OVG said. The closure posed significant risks to road users and residents, which surpassed the right to freedom of assembly. However, the city's appeal only targeted the reduction, so the panel was bound by the specific application.
Action prompted by impending judgment
The activists claimed the current action was in response to an upcoming verdict in a trial regarding a similar action on the A27 during the 2021 transport ministers' conference. A verdict is expected at the Achim local court. "On the occasion of the next court date, we aim to demonstrate that such actions are crucial and legitimate," a participant said in a statement.
"It's the damaging daily car traffic that kills and harms numerous people and animals," the statement continued. "Fewer vehicles mean less noise, cleaner air, and more living space for people. We're fighting for a world where life holds more value than growth, speed, and profit through such actions."
Police union strongly condemns the court decision
The Bremen branch of the German Police Union (DPolG) strongly criticized the court decision. "An artificial traffic jam on the federal highway, even with a speed limit, is always a grave risk," said the state chairman, Bernard Soika. The police witness accidents at traffic jams almost daily, many of which are fatal. "Regarding this freedom of assembly, I consider it thoroughly reckless to prioritize it over the safety and lives of others," Soika criticized.
The trade union leader cautioned against triggering numerous such traffic jams in the future and thereby endangering lives. Not only travelers, but also police officers, are particularly at risk during accident investigations and scene securing. From the union's perspective, such an action should have been moved to the city.
In relation to the upcoming verdict at the Achim local court, an activist stated, "On the occasion of the next court date, we aim to demonstrate that such actions are crucial and legitimate." Later, speaking about the court decision that allowed a one-hour highway closure, Bernard Soika, the state chairman of the German Police Union (DPolG), strongly criticized, "Regarding this freedom of assembly, I consider it thoroughly reckless to prioritize it over the safety and lives of others."
