A7 near Hamburg: Serious bridge damage lead to full closure!

A7 near Hamburg: Serious bridge damage lead to full closure!

The A7 south of Hamburg remains closed for the time being, and this causes excitement among drivers. The traffic to the north, i.e. to Flensburg, is affected - the reason for this is concrete damage on a bridge that is currently being examined. This blocking in the area of the Horster triangle will apply indefinitely until the experts can present reliable test results. The ADAC provides information about this and recommends affected drivers alternative routes. The detour leads back to the A7 via the parallel lane of the A1, the A39 to Lüneburg and the Maschener Kreuz. A detour that should be well observed, however, to avoid constant traffic jams. It is important to stay calm here - the weather does the rest for increased traffic.

So what happens if you don't choose the diversion? The ADAC warns of considerable traffic problems, especially on weekends. It is recommended to switch to public transport or possibly work in the home office. Many diversion routes for national traffic can be found on a list of the ADAC. In addition to the A1, the A21 and B205 can also be considered as alternatives. But be careful: the inner -city diversions through the Elbe bridges could be particularly busy.

The situation on Germany's bridges

What is behind the closure? A look at the bridge landscape in Germany makes it clear that this is not the only case. After the dramatic collapse of the Carol Bridge in Dresden in September 2024, many clamping concrete structures are under observation. Experts expect a large wave of renovation to ensure the security standards. Christian Müller, CEO of the AIV, recently spoke of a maintenance deficit that has accumulated over a decades.

The condition of many bridges is questionable, especially since 2018, when the Elsenbrücke had to be closed on one side due to serious damage. Such incidents make it clear how important regular controls are. Among other things, attention is paid to small cracks in these exams, which can be critical if they measure from 0.2 to 0.4 mm. Helmut Schleitzner, head of the specialist at the University of Economics and Law Berlin, predicts years full of renovation measures.

What drivers can do now

For drivers, this means specifically that they should prepare well. On the A7, it could be more relaxed around the Elbe tunnel at the weekend if the rush hour is eliminated - but traffic jams are still inevitable. Informed road users who see current reports and take care of alternatives in good time can remain a bit left. If you have a good hand here, you may get to your destination faster.

In conclusion, it remains to be said: The situation on the bridges of Germany is critical and the blocking of the A7 is only a small part of a major problem. You should therefore regularly follow the news and always have a diversion in mind for the coming weeks.

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OrtFlensburg, Deutschland
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