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A1 Motorway in Hamburg Fully Closed Over Weekend for Bridge Maintenance
Hamburg, October 9 – The A1 motorway in Hamburg has been fully closed since Friday evening, October 9, due to extensive construction work. The closure, which is expected to last until Monday morning, October 12, is necessary for essential maintenance on the Norderelbe Bridge. The Autobahn GmbH has warned of significant traffic restrictions and advised drivers to plan their journeys accordingly.
Closure Details and Duration
The full closure of the A1 is in effect between the Norderelbe motorway triangle and the Hamburg-Ost junction in both directions. It began on Friday evening and is scheduled to be lifted on Monday at 5:00 AM. This timing coincides with the start of school holidays in five German federal states: Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, Bremen, Saxony, and Thuringia, which is expected to exacerbate traffic volumes.
Travel Recommendations and Detours
The ADAC strongly recommends that drivers avoid Hamburg altogether during this period. For those traveling within Hamburg, a local detour is suggested via the A255, Billhorner Brückenstraße/Elbbrücken (B75), Heidenkampsweg, Bürgerweide, and Sievekingsallee to the Hamburg-Horn junction on the A24.
Long-distance traffic from the north is advised to take a wide detour from the Lübeck motorway junction via the A20, B206, and A7. Similarly, long-distance traffic from the south should detour from the Buchholz triangle via the A261 (Hamburg-Marmstorf) and the A7 towards Flensburg. Motorists are urged to check current traffic conditions before starting their journey and to allow significantly more travel time.
Background to the Closures
The primary reason for the closure is the inspection and maintenance of the Norderelbe Bridge, which is slated for a complete reconstruction by 2029. Additionally, the Stillhorn motorway maintenance depot will be carrying out essential maintenance and cleaning work that would otherwise cause further disruptions. Deutsche Bahn also plans to conduct work on the Moorfleet tunnel during this period, coordinating efforts to minimize overall impact.
Impact on Local Transport
While the A1 closure is significant, S-Bahn services have largely canceled their planned closure between Wilhelmsburg and Hammerbrook, providing some relief for public transport users. However, the overall traffic situation in Hamburg is expected to be challenging due to the combination of the A1 closure, school holiday traffic, and other ongoing roadworks.
Previous Incidents and Future Plans
The start of the autumn holidays has already seen accidents and long traffic jams on motorways, including the A1 and A7, highlighting the potential for further congestion this weekend. Looking ahead, the Hamburg traffic authority is planning a provisional Elbe bridge to facilitate crossings over the Norderelbe while the Freihafenelbbrücke is blocked and the Norderelbbrücke is being renovated. Deutsche Bahn also intends to build a railway line over the Elbe in the area of the current Freihafenelbbrücke during the reconstruction of the Norderelbbrücken. The new Norderelbbrücke is expected to be completed by the end of 2029, with an accelerated procedure in Hamburg to achieve this target.
Source: NDR.de
