Trip in the summer vacation - ADAC warns: Worst traffic jam weekend of the season is imminent
Patience is required on the way to the holidays: With the start of summer vacations in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, it can be particularly congested on Germany's autobahns today. Major traffic jams are expected according to ADAC estimates, especially in the afternoon. The situation is unlikely to ease up: The automobile club warned of one of the worst traffic weekends of the season. "Sunday is expected to be just as congested as Saturday," a spokesperson said.
The autobahns with the greatest risk of traffic jams in both directions, according to ADAC, are in the metropolitan areas of Berlin, Hamburg and Munich. Most traffic jams are expected at construction sites where lanes are reduced or particularly long. The "worst traffic stretches" listed by ADAC include the A1 between Hamburg and Flensburg and the A6 between Mannheim and Nürnberg - it can be very tight in both directions there.
The grim forecast comes from ADAC due to last year's experience. The last July weekend was the most congested of the season in the travel season 2023.
Why is it particularly crowded right now?
All federal states in Germany are on holiday. "The second wave of travelers is rolling out from Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern," analyzed auto experts. In Bremen, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, school is starting soon. According to ADAC, there are currently 1,230 construction sites on the autobahns, slightly fewer than last year.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, a closure affects the A1 at Leverkusen. Starting from this evening until Monday morning (29.7.), the important traffic artery between the interchanges Leverkusen and Leverkusen-West will be closed in both directions. Traffic is to be diverted widely and depending on direction and destination via the A59 or A3.
What are the options?
To avoid the biggest traffic jams, vacationers should ideally not leave on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays - or if they do, then only in the late afternoon, recommends the traffic club. In addition, more time should be planned. To avoid waiting times at toll stations, necessary vignettes can be purchased in advance.
For those traveling by train, they should also plan for full trains. Most train journeys take place at the beginning of the holidays, as a spokesperson noted. The return traffic is distributed over several days. In the internet and the app, train load is therefore indicated. Flexible travelers are advised to use connections in the early morning and late evening. Important tracks are also closed for construction work.
Airports can also be a source of patience. Munich Airport expects over six million passengers in the coming holiday weeks, alone 400,000 passengers at the first weekend. The recommendation: build in a time buffer.
What was the longest traffic jam so far?
The longest traffic jam of the year, according to ADAC, occurred on January 18 on the A61 between Ludwigshafen and Mönchengladbach, where a traffic jam of 77 kilometers in length formed. The cause was freezing rain.
- Despite the summer vacation in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria starting, vacationers should be patient on the autobahns in Germany due to expected heavy traffic.
- ADAC, the automobile club, forecasts one of the worst traffic weekends of the season, with Sunday being as congested as Saturday.
- Traffic jams are particularly pronounced in the metropolitan areas of Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich, with construction sites and long stretches of road being the main culprits.
- North Rhine-Westphalia's A1 at Leverkusen will be closed for construction from evening until Monday morning, requiring drivers to detour via the A59 or A3.
- To avoid the biggest traffic jams, vacationers should consider leaving for their holiday destinations on weekdays or late in the afternoon, and plan extra time for travel.
- Train journeys during this time may also be delayed due to high demand, so travelers are advised to check train load indications and consider early morning or late evening departures.
- Munich Airport expects over six million passengers during the holiday season, with 400,000 passengers alone during the first weekend, so extra time should be factored in for flights.
- Last year, the most congested weekend of the season occurred in July, with traffic jams particularly pronounced in Göttingen, Hanover, and Mainz.
- The longest traffic jam of the year so far was 77 kilometers on the A61 between Ludwigshafen and Mönchengladbach due to freezing rain.
