Thorough Geotechnical Investigation
Detailed investigations provided a reliable basis for planning and execution.
Client
Autobahn GmbH
Location
Leipzig
Connect with an expert
Manuel Quilisch
Project Manager
Soil Stabilisation under Complex Conditions
The A72 is a roughly 170 km-long motorway connecting the Bavarian Vogtland region via Chemnitz to Leipzig. Its construction represented a significant engineering challenge —not least due to complex boundary conditions, particularly in the final sections south of Leipzig.
Geotechnical Expertise
Our geotechnical specialist support ensured the safe implementation of measures during construction.
Dealing with Challenging Subsurface Conditions
The section runs across the former Espenhain open-cast mine, with overburden deposits reaching up to 70 metres in thickness.
High Requirements
Extensive ground improvement measures as well as precise planning and execution were required to achieve a stable alignment.
Project Background
The most demanding stretch of the A72 was Section 5.2, running between Leipzig and Chemnitz. The new road between Rötha and the A38 motorway junction crosses the former Espenhain open-cast mine, where up to 70 metres of spoil material was dumped during the 1950s and 1960s, creating highly unstable ground conditions. Extensive ground improvement works were required to establish a stable foundation for the motorway. The site was classified as Geotechnical Category 3 – reserved for ground conditions of exceptional complexity, placing the highest demands on both planning and construction.
What We Did
The Saxon State Office for Road Construction and Transport commissioned CDM Smith to carry out the ground investigation, design the ground improvement works and provide geotechnical support during construction. To stabilise the ground, we employed a combination of vibro stone columns, vertical drains and surcharge fill. After approximately two years on site, initial results are now available. The original model assumptions and deformation forecasts for the ground behaviour have been confirmed.
Construction Progress and First Traffic Opening
On 19 July 2025, traffic began using the carriageway toward Chemnitz between the Leipzig Süd interchange and the Zwenkau junction. For the first time, vehicles are travelling on the permanent road surface, with two of the three lanes now open. The Zwenkau junction is fully connected, and the use of low-noise asphalt provides a noticeable reduction in road noise.
Full completion of this section and the closing of the remaining gap to the A38 are scheduled for the end of 2026. Once complete, the A72 will run continuously from the Bavarian Vogtland through Chemnitz to Leipzig.
Our deformation forecasts and model assumptions, which we were able to verify and refine through large-scale trials before the first construction lot began, have proven correct. We are grateful that our client gave us the opportunity and the trust to develop an economical solution for the entire project through such trials.
Manuel Quilisch, Project Manager
Client
Autobahn GmbH
Location
Leipzig
Connect with an expert
Manuel Quilisch
Project Manager
Project Figures
7.2 km
construction section
70 m
dumped fill depth
