The planned and so far only partially realised expansion of the Berlin city motorway costs €218,000 per sealed metre. It cuts up neighbourhoods, forces residents to move out and endangers health through noise and air pollution. Many who live directly on the A100, some without noise insulation, do not even own a car.
The series Side by Side shows how residents and urban nature have adapted to the tarred river after decades and live in an imposed coexistence with the route. One finally resigns. After more than 50 years, one hardly notices the rattling of the garden gate caused by the vibration of a passing lorry. With every kilometre of motorway built, the problems increase.
For young people in particular, the A100 embodies the symbol of a completely outdated mobility concept that is extremely dangerous for the future in view of rapid climate change. The newly built skate park under the motorway bridge, which stays dry in the rain but dark in the sun, is no consolation.