A7 closure and Ed Sheeran: Chaos is looming in Hamburg this weekend!

A7 closure and Ed Sheeran: Chaos is looming in Hamburg this weekend!

On the first weekend in July, the people of Hamburg will have exciting but also challenging days ahead. What are probably the biggest events in the Hanseatic city not only attract numerous visitors, but also cause intense traffic chaos, especially on the A7. How NDR reported, the A7 will be closed in both directions at the weekend from Friday evening to Monday morning. The closure extends over the section between the Hamburg-Stellingen and Hamburg-Heimfeld junctions. Drivers should prepare for the fact that the Elbe Tunnel will also be affected.

According to NDR, the closure began on Friday evening at 10 p.m. and will end on Monday morning at 5 a.m. The reason for this measure is the work on a new tunnel control center as well as the laying of cables and the installation of shafts. But that's not all - on Monday a new, impressive 3.7 kilometer long section of the A7 in the south of Hamburg will also be opened, which will then be accessible on eight lanes.

Spectacular events and high visitor numbers

What else awaits the city this weekend? Ed Sheeran is giving three concerts at the Volksparkstadion, namely on July 4th, 5th and 6th. Around 57,000 fans are expected per concert, with a total of around 150,000 visitors. The MOPO emphasizes that the popular Schlagermove is taking place parallel to the concert on Saturday, which will also attract numerous participants and will result in significant road closures in St. Pauli. There will also be demos with up to 1,000 participants, which will put additional strain on traffic.

The Hamburg S-Bahn has already reacted and increased the offer for the S-Bahn lines S3 and S5 to a 10-minute frequency on Friday and Sunday. On Saturday, lines S1, S2, S3 and S5 also run frequently. The organizers' recommendation to travel by public transport is more than just advice - it is almost essential to avoid the massive traffic congestion. The best way to reach the Volksparkstadion is via the Hamburg-Stellingen stop for concert-goers from the north and the Elbe bridges from the south.

Optimizations and alternative travel options

If you still come by car, you should be prepared for diversions via the A1, A21 and B205. These routes are clearly signposted. Autobahn GmbH has also provided dynamic directions to guide road users in the best possible way. There are also inner-city alternative routes from the south. The organizer FKP Scorpio Group also recommends Park+Ride offers, and even traveling by bike is recommended as an environmentally friendly option.

This weekend is also a good opportunity to think about the sustainability of travel. An analysis of travel to major events has shown that informed visitors cause 19% fewer emissions and choose public transport 20% more often. The results of this study, published as part of the TICKET TO RIDE project, demonstrate the positive impact of public knowledge on green mobility, such as digital-bb shows.

Overall, this weekend in Hamburg will be exciting and challenging at the same time. Effective planning is required, especially when it comes to traveling to big events, but with a little preparation and the use of public transport, all visitors should be able to enjoy a pleasant evening at the Volksparkstadion or at the Schlagermove.