Hefty Traffic Coming Up on These Southwestern Roads over the Holiday Weekend - Be Prepared!
Southwestern areas to experience a surge in population as people return post-holidays - Southwest areas to experience heavy traffic by the holiday's end.
Gear up, motorists in Baden-Württemberg! This holiday weekend might prove to be a headache on the roads, especially as we near Corpus Christi and the conclusion of the Whitsun holidays. The German traffic club, ADAC Württemberg, predicts severe traffic congestion, particularly on motorways heading north, due to the increased number of vacationers hitting the roads and the end of the Whitsun holidays in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria on Sunday.
Obviously, Sunday afternoon could see some staggering traffic jams. However, Corpus Christi itself should be quieter as many short-stay vacationers will likely depart on Wednesday afternoon, ADAC expert Holger Bach notes.
So, what's the tip? Flexible drivers should opt for Thursday travel. Those who can't avoid weekend travel should do so before 8:00 am and after 6:00 pm to dodge the most enormous traffic snarls.
Here's the lowdown on the most congested routes:
- A5 (Basel - Karlsruhe - Heidelberg)
- A6 (Nuremberg - Heilbronn - Mannheim)
- A7 (Füssen - Ulm - Würzburg)
- A8 (Munich - Stuttgart - Karlsruhe)
- A81 (Singen - Stuttgart - Heilbronn)
- Greater Stuttgart area
Construction sites exacerbate the situation. The A8 near Pforzheim and an area on the A6 between Walldorf interchange and Wiesloch pose the highest traffic jam potential. Last year, the total length of traffic jams in the state at the end of Whitsun holidays was a whopping 416 kilometers.
But, it isn't just Germany where you can expect traffic backups. In Austria and Switzerland, where Corpus Christi is also a holiday, there may be traffic bottlenecks – for example on the Tauern and Brenner motorways and at the Gotthard tunnel.
Given the expected summer temperatures, the ADAC advises taking adequate food and drinks, and regular breaks. And, let's not forget, never leave children or pets in the car during warm weather.
Watch Out for These Additional Traffic Issues
- A2 Motorway near Magdeburg-Rothensee: Until November 19, the A2 heading towards Hannover is closed due to construction work, causing traffic to be diverted via Magdeburg's city center motorway junction.
- A14 Motorway near Magdeburg-Stadtfeld: The A14 junction in the northern direction will probably be closed until September 28, impacting travel towards Magdeburg and Stendal junctions.
- A36 near Güsten: Roadworks will continue until October 5, with traffic being redirected to the Ilberstedt motorway junction.
Although these are in Saxony-Anhalt, southwestern Germany could experience secondary effects due to the knock-on congestion from these significant routes.
Roadblock on the A40 in the Ruhr Area
The A40 will experience a complete closure between Bochum-Harpen and the Westkreuz junctions in both directions for around 15 weeks from August 6 for bridge reconstruction at the Schlachthofbrücke. This closure will cause approximately 100,000 vehicles daily to detour onto the A448 and A43 motorways, potentially affecting traffic in southwestern Germany as well.
Strategies to Avoid Congestion
- Take Alternative Routes: Adjust your travel plan to avoid closed sections on A2, A14, and A36.
- Detour on A40: Avoid the A40 in the Ruhr area between August and October, or opt for the A448 and A43 as detours during the closure period.
- Stay Informed with Real-Time Traffic Updates: Consult various sources for accurate and reliable traffic updates before hitting the road.
- Travel Outside Peak Times: If possible, steer clear of peak travel times to minimize your time stuck in traffic.
- Consider Alternative Transport or Events: Investigate local bike events, car-free days in nearby regions, or public transportation alternatives as alternatives to driving.
