Hamburg, September 29 – After more than two days of complete closure, traffic has resumed through the Hamburg Elbe Tunnel and on the A7 since Monday morning. The closure over the weekend was necessary for the final construction work on the Elbmarsch elevated highway south of the Elbe Tunnel, which is now fully operational.
50-Hour Closure Causes Significant Traffic Disruptions
The 50-hour closure led to considerable traffic restrictions on Hamburg’s roads over the weekend. According to the traffic control center, the diversion via the A1 was particularly affected, with traffic jams reaching up to nine kilometers on both Saturday and Sunday. Adjacent roads to the autobahn also experienced heavy congestion. This was further exacerbated by additional traffic due to Hamburg’s Sunday shopping event.
A7 Section South of Elbe Tunnel Completed
The Hamburg-Volkspark junction had been closed earlier to facilitate the final works for the completion of the K20 Elbmarsch elevated highway. The Autobahn GmbH has hailed this completion as a significant milestone. Federal Transport Minister Steffen Bilger (CDU) attended the opening on Saturday.
Germany’s Longest Highway Bridge Expanded
The K20 Elbmarsch elevated highway, now expanded to eight lanes, is approximately four kilometers long and is considered Germany’s longest highway bridge. It connects the Elbe Tunnel with the future Hamburg-Hafen autobahn interchange. This interchange is set to connect the A7 with the A26-West from Stade starting in 2028, and eventually with the planned A26-Ost through the port to the A1.
Work Continues on Altona Noise Barrier Tunnel
During the full closure, construction on the noise barrier tunnel in the Altona area also progressed. This tunnel, over two kilometers long and covering the eight-lane expanded autobahn section, is expected to be completed by the end of 2029.
This marked the sixth full closure of both carriageways since the beginning of this year, but it will also be the last for this year.
Background Information
The 4.2-kilometer-long Elbmarsch elevated highway runs south of the Elbe Tunnel on the A7 between Waltershof and Hausbruch.
The expansion of the A7 in Hamburg is an ongoing major construction project that aims to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion in the region. The completion of the Elbmarsch elevated highway is a crucial step in this extensive infrastructure upgrade, which has been underway for six years.
Future plans include the integration of the A26-West and A26-Ost, which are expected to further enhance connectivity and alleviate traffic pressure on the existing road network. The noise barrier tunnel in Altona is designed to mitigate the environmental impact of the expanded highway on local residents.
The successful reopening of the Elbe Tunnel and the A7 marks a significant achievement for the regional transport infrastructure, promising improved travel conditions for commuters and freight traffic alike.
Source: https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/hamburg/a7-und-elbtunnel-in-hamburg-wieder-frei,asieben-178.html
