Overview
- The Hessian Ministry of Transport issued an exception permit and plan change that allows the remaining trees occupied by the strictly protected Heldbock beetle to be removed.
- The decision clears the way to fell roughly 0.5 hectares still standing on the Fechenheimer Wald project site, following earlier restrictions after the species was found there.
- The permit is conditioned on conservation steps, including relocating cut breeding trees to another forest area and additional measures such as limiting forestry use on further plots.
- Autobahn GmbH says construction is planned to start in the coming months, likely in early 2026, for a roughly 1.1‑kilometer tunnel linking the A66 and A661.
- The project is budgeted at about €1.5 billion with work expected to run until the end of 2033, while BUND and other groups continue to oppose the build and criticize the policy direction.