Traffic chaos in Schleswig-Holstein: traffic jams, construction sites and waves of travel!

Traffic chaos in Schleswig-Holstein: traffic jams, construction sites and waves of travel!

Today is July 5, 2025, and the travel time for many drivers in northern Germany has now really begun. In some federal states, the first summer holidays are making waves and the road is slowly becoming a veritable wave of travel. In Schleswig-Holstein you can expect the motorways to be packed at times, especially on the main traffic axes such as the A1, A7 and A23. The traffic situation for this summer is made clear in a current report by NDR, where the forecasts for traffic jams and traffic bottlenecks are also presented: NDR.

Driving is a challenge at the moment. Many travelers set off for the coasts and islands with a full trunk and plenty of provisions. There is a risk of traffic jams on the highways in Schleswig-Holstein, especially at the numerous construction sites. Construction sites on the A23 in the Pinneberg district, the A7 at the Rader Hochbrücke and the A1 in various sections ensure longer journey times.

The A1 between Hamburg and Heiligenhafen in particular suffers from numerous construction sites, all of which should be kept in mind. A look at the current construction sites shows:

• AK Bargteheide: Brückenarbeiten, Ende am 1. Dezember 2025.
• AS Reinfeld – AK Lübeck: Nachtbaustellen, Ende am 13. Juli 2025.
• AD Bad Schwartau – AS Pansdorf: Fahrbahnerneuerung, Ende am 27. Januar 2026.
• AS Scharbeutz – AS Neustädter Bucht: Brückenarbeiten, Ende am 31. Juli 2025.
• AS Neustadt-Pelzerhaken – Hasselburger Mühle: Fahrbahninstandsetzung, Ende am 11. Juli 2025.

Current challenges on the A23

The A23, also known as the West Coast Motorway, is an essential connection for travelers to the North Frisian Islands and Denmark. It stretches over 95.5 kilometers between Hamburg and the B5 in Heide. An expansion from four to six lanes between Tornesch and Hamburg is planned in the coming years shz reported.

The traffic volume is particularly dense in the Pinneberg district, with around 78,000 vehicles between Elmshorn and the A7 every day. Construction work is also underway including:

• Sanierung im Abschnitt zwischen Pinneberg-Nord und Halstenbek-Rellingen in Fahrtrichtung Süd, deren Wiederfreigabe zu Beginn Juli stattfindet.
• Neue Baustelle in Fahrtrichtung Norden bis voraussichtlich Anfang November.
• Sanierung der Bilsbek-Brücke zwischen Kummerfeld und Ellerhoop, die auch die Ausweichstrecke für die A23 betrifft.

Travel tips and recommendations

In order to equalize the traffic, Autobahn GmbH recommends driving anti-cyclically, i.e. better in the late evening or at night. A quick passage through the construction site areas is particularly important. If you are stuck in a traffic jam on the motorway, you should ideally pay attention to the signposted alternative routes so as not to get trapped.

Added to this are the long waiting times on the ferries, for example to Föhr and Amrum, although purchasing tickets in advance is highly recommended. Deutsche Bahn also expects high capacity utilization on the regional connections to the North and Baltic Seas, and additional train cancellations during the summer holidays cannot be ruled out.

Overall, a certain amount of planning and flexibility is required from travelers. Loud ADAC The traffic situation is monitored through continuous data collection and analysis, allowing drivers to be informed in real time about current traffic jams. In such a challenging time, it is important to prepare well and always keep an eye on the current traffic situation.