The A 111 was used from 31 December 1987 to German reunification in 1990 for transit traffic through the GDR to Hamburg and Malmö (Sweden) with the border crossing Heiligensee / Stolpe.

The length of the tunnel tube east (north direction) is 967 m, the tunnel tube west (south direction) extends over a length of 878 m. The two separate tunnels were built in an open construction in a pit with groundwater lowering and then covered, so that the runway of the airport is located above.

10.50 m, the clear height was designed with 5.50 m and with extensions at a minimum of 4.81 m. Due to tightened safety guidelines for road tunnels (including 2004/54 / EC of 29 April 2004) and the tunnel leakages investigated in the 1990s, a basic overhaul was planned beginning 18 November 2006 for 18 months a full closure was carried out.

Due to the structural condition is expected from the year 2021 a thorough renovation of the Berlin section of the A 111 required.

In addition to the renewal of the carriageway, this also includes the refurbishment of the Tunnel Beyschlagsiedlung, Tegel Forest Office and Tegel town center as well as the replacement of the discontinued bridges in this section of the route.