Traffic - Hundreds of roadworks on highways in Germany
There have been hundreds of roadworks on Germany's highways this year. Until shortly before Christmas, there were 690, a spokesperson for Autobahn GmbH des Bundes told the German Press Agency. According to the information, these were roadworks with traffic restrictions on at least four days. At the turn of the year a year ago, there were 552 roadworks.
According to the spokesperson, it is not yet possible to say how many there will be next year. In total, 2508 kilometers of roadway have been built or modernized in recent months.
According to its own figures, Autobahn GmbH has invested around six billion euros in the maintenance and expansion of Germany's federal highways. This is a record investment. It was made despite a shortage of skilled workers, high hurdles due to the war in Ukraine and the resulting supply chain problems, said the spokesperson. In 2022, 5.4 billion euros had been invested.
Drivers had to be patient in the face of many roadworks until the lanes were completely open to traffic again. "The average duration is currently 448 days," said the spokesperson.
The freeway network in Germany covers more than 13,000 kilometers. According to Autobahn GmbH, a total of around 30 kilometers were added this year.
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Despite the challenges of a skilled labor shortage, the war in Ukraine, and supply chain issues, Autobahn GmbH of the federal government managed to invest a record-breaking six billion euros in the maintenance and expansion of German federal highways this year, despite these hurdles. This significant investment allowed for the construction or modernization of 2508 kilometers of roadway.
During this construction period, commuters and travelers had to navigate around numerous roadworks on the German highways, with an average closure duration of 448 days for each site, according to the spokesperson from Autobahn GmbH.
These roadworks had a significant impact on traffic, and, in fact, the German Press Agency reported that at the turn of the year, there were 690 roadworks with traffic restrictions on at least four days – a notable increase from the 552 roadworks observed at the same time last year.
Residents and visitors in Berlin, Germany, are encouraged to check traffic updates and plan their commutes carefully, as this wave of construction and maintenance will likely continue to impact travel on the country's highways, including the famous Autobahn, even as we approach the upcoming Christmas party season.
Source: www.stern.de
