Danger of traffic jams on NRW motorways: the start of the holiday brings chaos!

Danger of traffic jams on NRW motorways: the start of the holiday brings chaos!

The summer holidays are just around the corner and that not only means a lot of anticipation, but also a lot of traffic on the roads in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). In the last few days, some federal states, such as Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, have already started their summer holidays, while in North Rhine-Westphalia the hordes of students are leaving next weekend when the holidays begin here. The ADAC expects Friday, July 5th, to be the busiest day, with travelers from Northern Europe and numerous day-trippers causing increased traffic. The traffic jam forecast promises an exciting, albeit challenging, weekend for drivers in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Things get tight, especially on the highways. According to Ruhr24, several NRW routes are at high risk of traffic jams. These include the A2 between Kreuz Oberhausen and Bottrop, A3 between Oberhausen-Holten and Mettmann and A40 between Duisburg-Rheinhausen and Duisburg-Homberg. But there are also likely to be delays on the A45, which runs between Dortmund and Lüdenscheid. Particular attention is being paid to the A43, which will remain completely closed between Bochum and Recklinghausen for ten days until July 7th.

Special challenges for travelers

The current construction site situation also contributes to short-term traffic conditions becoming more difficult. The ADAC estimates that there are currently around 600 construction sites in North Rhine-Westphalia waiting for drivers. So if you're traveling by car, you should plan enough time and keep a cool head. Various motorway sections, such as the one over the Leverkusen motorway junction (A1/A3), are among the most affected and extremely congested areas, as ADAC reports.

The greatest risk of traffic jams is expected on Fridays from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., when both vacationers and commuters are on the roads. For drivers who are flexible, it is recommended to travel early in the morning or on Tuesday to avoid the morning rush hour. From July 1st, driving bans for trucks over 7.5 tonnes will also apply on Saturdays between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. If you think there's no getting around traffic, you should consider leaving the motorway if traffic jams are longer than 10 km, according to the ADAC.

A look at the congestion in the neighborhood

Traffic jams are also expected in Austria, Italy and Switzerland, which could affect travel conditions. An increased risk of traffic jams is predicted, particularly on the highways that lead to the North and Baltic Seas and in popular holiday destinations. Anyone planning their summer vacation to the south could also encounter some challenges there. According to ADAC NRW, travelers in these stores are particularly affected.

The planned closures include, among other things, a complete closure of the A59 in the direction of Düsseldorf from June 29th to July 7th. These construction sites are not only annoying, but also potential time wasters for every traveler. So it remains exciting to see how traffic will flow in the coming weeks.

For anyone who wants to plan a comfortable journey to their holiday destination in good time, we recommend up-to-date traffic information and diversions that are signposted locally. Ideas and suggestions can easily be found on the Internet, for example on the ADAC website. In any case, it's important to be patient and enjoy your summer holidays to the fullest, despite the threat of traffic jams!