Ten-Day A40 Autobahn Closure in Mülheim for WWII Bomb Search

A critical section of the A40 autobahn, a major artery in Germany's Ruhr area, will be completely closed for ten days to facilitate the search for unexploded World War II ordnance. The closure, scheduled from Friday evening, June 14, to June 24, will impact traffic between Duisburg and Essen, affecting an estimated 80,000 to 90,000 vehicles daily.

Specialists need to investigate the ground before planned construction work at a specific site in Mülheim an der Ruhr. Although the search area is only about 20 meters long, the process requires removing and then restoring the roadway, making the ten-day closure unavoidable. The A40 is slated for a six-lane expansion in the coming years due to its high traffic volume.

Drivers face significant detours. The closure between the Mülheim-Heißen and Mülheim-Winkhausen junctions affects both directions. Compounding the issue, the adjacent Kreuz Kaiserberg construction site necessitates a lengthy diversion for long-distance traffic between Duisburg and Essen, extending the route to nearly 40 kilometers, almost reaching Düsseldorf Airport. Local traffic within Mülheim will be rerouted via city streets, with diversion plans coordinated with the city administration.

The A40 between Duisburg and Essen is a known congestion hotspot. The planned six-lane expansion aims to accommodate increasing traffic, but it involves rebuilding 16 bridges in the densely populated region and is expected to take many years. Despite the extensive construction, traffic is generally managed around the work zones.