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A7 near Hamburg: Serious bridge damage leads to complete closure!
The A7 near Hamburg remains closed until further notice due to concrete damage to a bridge. Diversions have been set up.
A7 near Hamburg: Serious bridge damage leads to complete closure!
The A7 south of Hamburg remains closed for the time being, and that is causing excitement among drivers. Traffic heading north, i.e. to Flensburg, is affected - the reason for this is concrete damage to a bridge, which is currently being investigated. This closure in the Horster triangle area will apply for an indefinite period of time until the experts can provide reliable test results. The ADAC provides information about this and recommends alternative routes to affected drivers. The diversion leads via the parallel lane of the A1, the A39 to Lüneburg and the Maschener Kreuz back to the A7. A detour that should, however, be carefully observed in order to avoid constant traffic jams. It's important to stay calm here - the weather does its part to increase traffic.
So what happens if you don't choose the redirection? The ADAC warns of significant traffic problems, especially at weekends. It is recommended to use public transport or possibly work from home. Many diversion routes for national traffic can be found on an ADAC list. In addition to the A1, the A21 and the 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 blocking? A look at the bridge landscape in Germany makes it clear that this is not the only case. After the dramatic collapse of the Carola Bridge in Dresden in September 2024, many prestressed concrete structures are under observation. Experts expect a major wave of renovations to ensure safety standards. Christian Müller, CEO of the AIV, recently spoke of a maintenance backlog that has accumulated over one to two decades.
The condition of many bridges is worrying, especially since 2018, when half of the Elsen Bridge had to be closed due to serious damage. Such incidents make it clear how important regular checks are. During these tests, attention is paid, among other things, to small cracks, which can become critical if they measure from 0.2 to 0.4 mm. Helmut Schmeitzner, head of department at the Berlin School of Economics and Law, predicts years of renovation measures.
What drivers can do now
What this means for drivers is that they should prepare well. Things could be more relaxed around the Elbe tunnel on the A7 at the weekend if there is no rush hour traffic - but traffic jams are still inevitable. Informed road users who read current reports and look for alternatives in a timely manner can remain calm to a certain extent. If you have a good hand here, you might reach your goal quicker.
In conclusion, the situation at Germany's bridges is critical, and the closure of the A7 is only a small part of a larger problem. You should therefore follow the news regularly and always have a redirection in mind for the coming weeks.