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On the A7: Lower Saxony's heart of the fastest transport connections!
Find out all about the A7, Germany's longest motorway, which runs through Lower Saxony and connects important cities.
On the A7: Lower Saxony's heart of the fastest transport connections!
The Autobahn 7 (A7) is not only the longest highway in Germany, but also one of the most important traffic arteries in Europe. With an impressive length of 962 kilometers, it stretches from the Danish border in Ellund to the Austrian border near Füssen. This has made the A7 the second longest national expressway in Europe, surpassed only by Spain's Autovía A-7, which measures 1,250 kilometers. kreiszeitung.de reports that ...
In Germany, the A7 runs through several federal states, namely Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Lower Saxony and Hesse. In Lower Saxony in particular, the motorway plays a central role: it stretches for around 250 kilometers and passes large cities such as Göttingen, Hildesheim, Hanover and Lüneburg. Here the A7 shows itself as a pulsating bundle of life that connects both commuters and travelers.
Historical significance and accidents
Construction of the A7 began in the 1930s, but was abruptly interrupted by the Second World War. The first section between Göttingen and Bad Hersfeld opened in 1937, and the highway was further expanded in the 1960s. An unfortunate turning point in its history was an incident in 1971 when a Paninternational passenger plane had to make an emergency landing on the highway, tragically killing 22 people.
The A7 is currently being extensively modernized on several sections. This work is necessary to meet the high demands of traffic. From 2016 to 2017, the expansion to six lanes was pushed forward in various places, which is particularly beneficial for the busy route through Hamburg. Traffic jams are often the order of the day here. Wikipedia notes that...
Traffic volume and investments
At around 13,200 kilometers, the German motorway network is the second largest in the world. According to current figures, Autobahn GmbH, which has been responsible for the construction, operation and management of the motorway network since 2021, generated revenue of around 1.78 billion euros in 2022. However, despite increasing employment figures, expansion measures are stagnating. The need for higher investments is reflected not only in the growing mileage on the highways, but also in the increasing number of traffic jam hours, which already amounted to 427,000 in 2023 - an increase of around 30 percent compared to the previous year. statista.com adds that...
The Autobahn 7 is not only an important link between north and south, but it also reflects the challenges facing the German highway network: congested routes, the need for further expansion projects and the question of traffic safety. While a majority of Germans support a speed limit of 130 km/h, many drivers feel unsafe at high speeds. A solid approach to solving these challenges could require a good hand in policy and planning.