Germany’s motoring club ADAC forecasts “extraordinary congestion” on motorways between 3 and 5 July, when six additional federal states—and the northern Netherlands—start their summer break. Holidaymakers from Scandinavia and Poland are also expected to transit Germany en route to the Alps and Mediterranean, pushing key north–south arteries (A1, A3, A5, A7, A9) close to capacity. Compounding the problem are more than 1,000 active motorway construction sites and temporary speed limits imposed after recent heat-related ‘blow-ups’. Several full closures—including Hamburg Stillhorn–Harburg (A1) and Kamener Kreuz–Hamm (A2)—will divert freight as well as tourist traffic. Heavy-goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes face the annual Saturday driving ban, further squeezing Friday evening logistics slots. ADAC reminds travellers that Germany continues to perform spot checks at all land borders; queues of up to 45 minutes were reported last weekend at Suben (A3, Austria) and Kiefersfelden (A93). Companies moving time-critical consignments should allow for inspection buffers and consider night-time crossings. Practical advice for mobility managers: • Avoid peak periods (Friday afternoon, Saturday morning, Sunday late afternoon) or reroute via the A24/A19 when heading south-east. • Pre-book timed slots on the Brenner Toll Corridor to guarantee passage. • Advise drivers on the strict formation of emergency corridors (Rettungsgasse); fines now reach €320. The club’s online “Staukalender” details each weekend’s risk profile through mid-September, allowing corporates to plan field-force deployments and rental-car allocations.
Source: ADAC
