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Hamburg, October 19 – The autumn holidays have brought considerable traffic disruptions to Hamburg, with commuters and travelers facing congestion and closures on key routes. While Sunday saw no more traffic than usual within the city, Saturday afternoon experienced significant delays on the A7, adding nearly 40 minutes to travel times.
A24 Closure Towards City Centre
Construction work has led to the closure of the A24 carriageway between Hamburg-Jenfeld and Hamburg-Horn, heading towards the city centre. This closure is expected to last until Friday, October 23, at 8 PM. The Hamburg-Jenfeld on-ramp towards the city centre is also inaccessible.
The Autobahn GmbH has advised that diversions are in place via Hermannstal, Sievekingsallee, and the Horner Kreisel. For those approaching from the east, an alternative route is available from the Hamburg-Ost junction via the A1 to Hamburg-Billstedt, and then onto the B5.
Köhlbrandbrücke Closed for Maintenance
Further exacerbating the traffic situation, the Köhlbrandbrücke is completely closed until Monday morning at 5 AM for essential maintenance work. This closure affects a vital artery of the city’s transport network, adding to the challenges faced by drivers.
Broader Regional Impact of Autumn Holidays
The high volume of traffic this weekend is attributed to the convergence of holiday travel and return journeys. While autumn holidays have just begun in Hamburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, they concluded this weekend in other federal states. Numerous construction sites across the region are also contributing to the congestion, with not all lanes open on several autobahn sections. The ADAC had previously warned of a particularly busy weekend.
Other Affected Routes in Northern Germany
- A1: Congestion was reported between Uphusen/Bremen-Mahndorf and Arsten (5 km) and in the opposite direction between Bremen/Brinkum and Arsten (4 km).
- A2: Delays of approximately ten kilometers were observed on Sunday between Alleringersleben and Helmstedt-Zentrum due to a construction zone.
- A7: In Schleswig-Holstein, a seven-kilometer tailback formed on Sunday afternoon towards Flensburg between Schleswig-Jagel and Schleswig-Schuby.
The ADAC recommends avoiding peak travel times during the autumn holidays, suggesting early morning departures or waiting until after the afternoon rush hour. They also emphasize the importance of forming an emergency lane promptly in slow-moving traffic.
Ferry Services Affected by Low Water Levels
Beyond road traffic, ferry services in the North Sea are also experiencing disruptions. Strong easterly winds have led to low water levels, causing cancellations and schedule changes for connections to and from Juist, Spiekeroog, and Wangerooge. Travelers to Föhr and Amrum are advised to check their departure times.
Source: https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/info/herbstferien-im-norden-lange-staus-auf-autobahnen-am-wochenende,stau-320.html
