A7 closure: Drivers in Hamburg have to plan detours!

A7 closure: Drivers in Hamburg have to plan detours!

Drivers in northern Germany must expect restrictions on the A7 motorway in the coming days. From Friday, 10:00 p.m. to Monday, 5:00 a.m., the section between Hamburg-Stellingen and Hamburg-Heimfeld will be closed. The reason for this measure is the construction work as part of the Elbmarsch High Road project, in which the A7 is being widened from six to eight lanes. This comprehensive work includes the assembly of traffic sign gantries, the modernization of older bridges and the construction of the new tunnel control center.

The construction work requires a full closure, which also includes asphalting and maintenance work in the southern Elbe tunnel. In addition, ramp closures at the Stellingen, Volkspark, Bahrenfeld, Othmarschen, Waltershof and Heimfeld junctions are also planned from Friday at 9 p.m reported the Borkener Zeitung.

Detour and traffic recommendations

Traffic will be rerouted over a large area. Drivers from the south are directed from the Buchholzer triangle and Horster triangle via the Maschener Kreuz onto the A1, then continue on the A21 and B205 to Neumünster-Süd, where they can get back onto the A7. Drivers from the north should take the B205 towards A21 from Neumünster-Süd and turn onto the A1 towards Hamburg at the Bargteheide intersection. Inner-city alternative routes are available via the Heimfeld and Stellingen junctions. It is particularly recommended to avoid Hamburg as far as possible or to use alternative means of transport. Large-capacity and heavy-duty transports are also required to avoid the A7 as much as possible announced Autobahn GmbH.

Investments in transport infrastructure

The construction projects on the A7 are part of a larger trend in Germany, where a well-developed transport infrastructure is considered essential for economic growth. The federal government invested around 8.47 billion euros in road transport in 2023, with these funds earmarked for around 38,000 kilometers of federal roads and around 13,200 kilometers of motorways. Despite the great progress, many motorway bridges in Germany are in need of renovation and there are numerous challenges that could affect traffic flow shows Statista.

With the upcoming extensive construction project and the associated traffic disruptions, drivers should be prepared and adjust their routes in good time. In particular, the closure at a central traffic junction like the A7 is a clear indication that we must prepare for an intensive phase of traffic and infrastructure improvement. We can only hope that the work will go smoothly and that we will soon be able to drive more relaxed on the roads again.