Mining in the 48 km2 (19 sq mi) Garzweiler II area started in 2006 and is estimated to take until around 2045 to fully exploit both sectors.

In 2015, 1500 protesters took part in civil disobedience against the mine on the basis that it is Europe’s biggest source of CO2 emissions.

[4] It is not yet known what effect the plan to phase out all coal-fired power plants in Germany by 2038 will have on the Garzweiler lignite mine system.

In 2017, as the mine expanded to the west, the A 61 was closed with traffic diverted onto a stretch of newly built A 44n to the east of its original route.

As of January 2023, there will be no restoration of previous traffic infrastructure efficiency as stated before, as the part of A 61 which served as connection between two major motorway junctions (Mönchengladbach-Wanlo and Jackerath, respectively) won't be rebuilt after mining efforts are set to come to an end in 2030.