Elbe tunnel closed: traffic jams and diversions at the start of the holidays are looming!

Elbe tunnel closed: traffic jams and diversions at the start of the holidays are looming!

Dear readers, if you are looking forward to the upcoming summer holidays, there are some important information you should keep in mind. In northern Germany there will be temporary restrictions on the A7 from July 4, 2025. The Hamburg Elbe Tunnel will be completely closed during this period from Friday, July 4th, at 10 p.m. to Monday, July 7th, at 5 a.m. During this time, the A7 will be closed for around 55 hours, which will affect many travelers on their way to vacation. Mercury reports that the lockdown coincides with the start of the summer holidays in Bremen and Lower Saxony, which further aggravates the situation.

The affected section extends between the Hamburg-Stellingen and Hamburg-Heimfeld junctions and will also be affected by ramp closures at the junctions, which begin at 9 p.m. The closure is necessary in order to integrate all tunnels on the A7 into the new tunnel control center and to expand the carriageway to the south. There are several works on the agenda, including the installation of new traffic sign gantries and a technical upgrade of the existing bridges.

Planned diversions and recommendations for travelers

Traffic experts warn of long traffic jams and significant time losses during this closure. Therefore, travelers should prepare well and consider alternative routes. From the south, a diversion will be set up from Buchholzer triangle/Horster triangle via Maschener Kreuz to the A1, while from the north the exit at the Neumünster-Süd junction will lead to the B205. NDR points this out that local traffic will be rerouted within the city and also recommends switching to public transport during the closure, especially for journeys to Hamburg Airport.

In addition to the upcoming closure, the A7 in Hamburg has many other restrictions planned for 2025. For example, further work on the Schnelsen tunnel is planned for the period from July 18th to 21st and rework on the technology is planned for August 9th to 10th. Further details about the upcoming closures can be found in the overview below:

Apart from the A7 motorway, several full and partial closures are also planned on alternative routes such as the A1. It is recommended to check the current traffic situation via platforms such as verkehrslage.de to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Stay relaxed and well informed! We wish you a pleasant trip and a nice summer!