Traffic jam nightmare in Hamburg: A7 and Elbe tunnel closed until Monday!

Traffic jam nightmare in Hamburg: A7 and Elbe tunnel closed until Monday!

Drivers in Hamburg face a number of challenges at the weekend. Autobahn 7 has been closed since Friday evening until 5 a.m. Monday morning. The affected section extends between Hamburg-Stellingen and Hamburg-Heimfeld towards the south. The reason for this closure is a re-marking of the southbound lane, which is necessary as part of the A7 expansion to eight lanes. The Elbe Tunnel is also not spared from this measure, which leads to traffic jams and slow-moving traffic in and around the city. For example, the journey time on the A1 between Hamburg-Billstedt and Hamburg-Stillhorn is extended by more than an hour.

The traffic control center reports less traffic jams than expected, but disruptions are still to be expected. Drivers divert onto the A1 or attempt to drive through the city, causing traffic jams on the B75, B4, A1 and A255. The diversion for the affected drivers runs via the B205, the A21 and the A1. Large-capacity and heavy-duty transport in particular are also asked to deviate widely.

Planned closures and diversion strategies

The A7 closures are not the only ones this year. Several more full closures are already planned for 2025. These usually last around 55 hours and usually take place from Friday evening to Monday morning. The next dates are:

• 4. bis 7. Juli: Tunnel Schnelsen
• 26. bis 29. September: Elbtunnel
• 17. bis 20. Oktober: Elbtunnel
• 7. bis 10. November: Hochstraße K20
• 14. bis 17. November: Tunnel Stellingen
• 6. bis 7. Dezember: Hochstraße K20 (nächtliche Arbeiten)

The reasons for these bans are varied. In addition to expanding the A7 to eight lanes, new traffic sign gantries and a software upgrade in the Elbe tunnel will also be installed. Drivers who want to drive to Hamburg Airport, for example, should allow more time or consider public transport.

Current traffic situation

Anyone who would like to find out about the current traffic flow can use an interactive dashboard that shows the current traffic situation on German motorways. This means drivers can find out in real time where traffic jams are forming and what travel times are like. Motorway traffic centers are also working to provide information quickly and efficiently to keep traffic running smoothly. So it doesn't hurt to take a look at the dashboard before you set off on your journey.

Given the large number of construction sites and closures, there could be a bumpy time on the well-known motorway sections in the coming weeks. So stay well informed and plan well in advance. The A7, as one of the longest German motorways, remains an important north-south connection, but also an area where patience is required.