Protest Rave Against Berlin’s A100 Motorway Expansion Set for Next Month

In a united front, Berlin’s vibrant club community is gearing up to stage a protest rave on September 2, 2023, in opposition to the proposed 17th stage of the contentious A100 motorway expansion.

BI-A100, an advocacy group formed to challenge the next phase of motorway development in Berlin, which poses a direct threat to cultural hubs like ://about blank, Club OST, and Wilde Renate, recently announced this upcoming protest.

A joint statement from BI-A100 and Berlin’s Clubcommission, collaborators in this demonstration, declared, “On Saturday, September 2, 2023, we will reclaim the Markgrafendamm between Elsenbrücke and Ostkreuz as a motorway-free zone.”

Positioning themselves as a coalition of local residents, environmental activists, and club enthusiasts, the groups are amplifying their message through the medium of music and inviting everyone to a protest rave against the A100 motorway.

Both collectives are rallying Berlin’s clubbing community to unite on September 2 to oppose the impending developments, which stand to obliterate 21 cultural institutions, encompassing cinemas, clubs, and bars, across the city, according to statements from the Clubcommission.

Lutz Leichsenring, spokesperson for the Berlin Clubcommission, elaborated to Mixmag in May that the A100 extension—known as Bundesautobahn 100—threatens to slice through nightlife districts in Mitte, Charlottenburg, Tempelhof, and Neukölln.

Leichsenring explained, “Altogether, around 21 cultural venues lie within the vicinity of this uninterrupted autobahn construction, which poses a severe threat.”

He added, “On the flip side, if they do choose not to proceed with the autobahn, there’s still a danger due to escalating real estate values. Landlords might opt for more lucrative real estate options, such as residential or office spaces. Therefore, regardless of whether the motorway is constructed or not, we must have a coherent plan or vision for this area.”

Presently, the A100 development is in its 16th stage, which commenced in 2013 and is projected to cost approximately €700 million upon completion. The green light for the 17th stage is anticipated to be given in the coming months, raising concerns about its potential impact on local housing within the affected regions.