Complete closure at the Herne intersection: traffic collapse threatens for the whole of North Rhine-Westphalia!

Complete closure at the Herne intersection: traffic collapse threatens for the whole of North Rhine-Westphalia!

In North Rhine-Westphalia there will be significant traffic disruptions on the A43 and A42 in the coming week. The busy Herne Cross will be completely closed from September 12th to 15th. Loud calf Construction will begin on Friday, September 12th at 7:30 p.m. and will continue until Monday, September 15th at 5:00 a.m. The A43 will be closed in both directions between Bochum-Riemke and the Recklinghausen intersection.

Drivers must also expect an additional closure of the Herne-Baukau junction in the direction of Dortmund, which will take place on Saturday, September 13th, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The diversions for this route lead via the A40 and A45 as well as the A2. During this time, only one lane in the direction of Dortmund remains passable on the A42.

Background to the lockdown

The closure underpins the six-lane expansion of the A43, which is being carried out as part of the Baukau Tunnel project. This tunnel, which has been in operation since August 2025, connects the A43 towards Münster with the A42 towards Oberhausen. How autobahn.de describes, these conversions are necessary to relieve traffic and increase safety, especially due to the proximity to railway lines and city streets.

The major project involved an enormous amount of material: 125,000 cubic meters of earth and rock as well as 27,000 cubic meters of concrete were moved. In addition, special production and re-infiltration wells were installed to avoid groundwater problems. The tunnel, 550 meters long, offers an impressive view through an open entrance and even includes an escape tunnel for emergencies.

Current traffic situation

Today, September 2nd, some traffic jams have already been reported on the motorways in North Rhine-Westphalia. For example, vehicles are parked on the A61 between Mönchengladbach-Nordpark and Mönchengladbach junction and on the A4 between Cologne-Klettenberg and Cologne-Eifeltor. The A3 also has sections that are at risk due to fallen tires on the road, as reported by stau.info show.

The coming weeks will be a challenge not only for construction traffic, but also for everyone who regularly uses the region's motorways. So it's important to have a good hand in planning your trips - especially in view of the upcoming closures!