Summer construction sparks holiday travel fears in Hessen

Germany's summer holiday travel season is kicking off with a familiar headache: widespread construction zones. Major highways across the Rhein-Main region, including the A3, A60, and A66, are experiencing lane closures and reduced capacity. The ADAC, a German automobile club, warns of significant traffic jams, particularly as the holiday rush combines with commuter traffic.

The A7, a crucial north-south artery, is also affected by construction on multiple sections. In eastern Hessen, the A4 and A45 are experiencing limitations. Beyond the autobahns, Hessen Mobil reports approximately 45 construction sites on federal roads and 70 on state roads, with an additional 45 planned for the summer. Construction is also rampant at the municipal level, though comprehensive data is still being compiled.

Traffic experts like Wolfgang Herda of the ADAC emphasize the necessity of this extensive construction. "The road surfaces are dilapidated, the bridges are dilapidated; it is urgent to do something here," he stated. Unlike in previous years when construction might have been completed before holidays, current repairs cannot be postponed. Herda pointed to instances where bridges required complete closure, a consequence of decades of delayed maintenance.

Rail travel is also impacted. Passengers should anticipate disruptions on routes like the Lahn-Kinzig-Bahn, Fulda-Bebra, and Bensheim-Bürstadt lines. A major five-month full closure of the right-hand Rhine route is scheduled to begin July 10 for extensive renovations, impacting the Cologne-Mainz corridor. Work continues at the Mainz hub, and S-Bahn and regional trains passing through Frankfurt-Höchst will also face temporary disruptions.

“

The road surfaces are dilapidated, the bridges are dilapidated; it is urgent to do something here.