traffic - Obstructions and traffic: A traffic jam weekend is threatening
In the coming weekend in the middle of summer holidays, drivers on important long-distance highways in North Rhine-Westphalia will have to deal with full closures and traffic jams. The Automobile Club ADAC expects the worst traffic weekend of the season nationwide. On these days, all 16 federal states have simultaneous school holidays. In North Rhine-Westfalen, the A1 at Leverkusen, A43 at Herne, and A3 at Duisburg make route planning even more challenging.
Thomas Müther, spokesperson for ADAC Nordrhein, stated, "The closures starting from Friday evening will inevitably also affect important travel routes. This is noticeable on alternative routes as well."
Summer holiday traffic jams so far: Less frequent but longer
An increase in traffic on NRW autobahns has already been observed in the first holiday quarter, according to the ADAC's assessment in NRW. Although the same number of construction sites with approximately 600 staus were recorded as in the first two summer holiday weeks of the previous year, they were longer (+14 percent) and lasted longer (+9 percent).
The A1 at Leverkusen is affected by a closure. From tonight until Monday morning (29.7.), the important traffic artery between the interchanges Leverkusen and Leverkusen-West will be closed in both directions. Traffic will be diverted widely and depending on direction and destination over the A59 or A3.
A1 at Leverkusen congested
Specifically, motorists on the A1 in the direction of Dortmund will be redirected to the A59 towards Düsseldorf from the interchange Leverkusen-West. The ramps at the interchange Leverkusen-West to the A59 towards Leverkusen and Düsseldorf will be accessible. Motorists on the A1 in the direction of Koblenz will be redirected to the A3 towards Frankfurt.
During the closure period, steel girders will be installed at the western interchange to the A59. This measure is part of the major construction site around the renovation of the Leverkusen Rhine Bridge. The first part of the construction work was opened to traffic in 2024, and the completion of a sister bridge is predicted to last until the end of 2027.
A3 also closed - Construction work on the "Spaghetti-Knoten"
Another full closure is planned on the A3 between the interchanges Duisburg-Kaiserberg and Oberhausen-West - also from tonight until Monday morning (29.7.). The Autobahn GmbH will build steel girders for a new A3 bridge over railway tracks of the German Railways (Deutsche Bahn) during this time. The work is part of the comprehensive renovation of the Autobahnkreuz.
In the interchange at Duisburg, nicknamed the "Spaghetti-Knoten," several important traffic arteries intersect - both autobahns (A3 and A40) as well as railway lines that cross the autobahns. To make the interchange future-proof, all tracks, bridges, and ramps will be renovated. Additionally, each autobahn will receive an additional traffic lane in each direction. This will help improve the traffic situation in the congested interchange.
Closures on A43 at Herne and A59 at Troisdorf
In both directions, starting from this evening (21.00 hours) until Monday (5.00 hours), the A43 between Bochum-Riemke and the Recklinghausen Cross will also be closed. Traffic is to be rerouted extensively via the A40, A45, and A42 or the A2 during this period.
The reason for this is work on a new tunnel at the Herne Cross. Technology will be installed there. Additionally, the A43's carriageway is to be repaired at the Herne Cross. These works are part of one of North Rhine-Westphalia's largest highway construction projects: The North-South connection between the Ruhr Area and Münsterland is to be expanded to six lanes between Marl and Witten.
At the same time, the Autobahn GmbH is closing the A59 towards Cologne between the interchanges Troisdorf and Spich. The carriageway is being repaired there.
- Despite the upcoming weekend being a part of the summer holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia, drivers should anticipate full closures and traffic congestion on important long-distance highways.
- ADAC North Rhine predicts that this weekend will be the worst traffic weekend of the season nationwide, due to simultaneous school holidays in all 16 federal states.
- The A1 at Leverkusen, A43 at Herne, and A3 at Duisburg are among the affected highways, making route planning particularly challenging during this period.
- Thomas Müther, spokesperson for ADAC Nordrhein, warned that closures starting from Friday evening will impact various travel routes, including alternative routes.
- Summer holiday traffic jams have been observed to be less frequent but longer in the first holiday quarter in North Rhine-Westphalia compared to previous years.
- The A1 at Leverkusen is experiencing a closure from tonight until Monday morning, affecting the important traffic artery between the interchanges Leverkusen and Leverkusen-West.
- Motorists traveling in the direction of Dortmund will be redirected to the A59 towards Düsseldorf, while those going towards Koblenz will be redirected to the A3.
- During the closure period, steel girders will be installed at the western interchange to the A59, part of the renovation of the Leverkusen Rhine Bridge expected to be completed by 2027.
- Similar to the A1 at Leverkusen, the A3 will also be closed between Duisburg-Kaiserberg and Oberhausen-West, to install steel girders for a new A3 bridge over railway tracks, part of the comprehensive renovation of the Autobahnkreuz.
