Traffic Congestions Alert Issued by ADAC: Advice for Drivers to Avoid Traffic Delays
Baden-Württemberg Braces for Traffic Congestion Over Ascension Day Weekend
As the extended weekend leading up to Ascension Day approaches on Thursday, the Automobile Club of Germany (ADAC) forecasts significant traffic delays on the roads in Baden-Württemberg. According to Holger Bach, head of the traffic and environment department at the ADAC, the busiest traffic period is anticipated to be between 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM on Wednesday, as both commuters and vacationers share the roads. In 2024, the day preceding Ascension Day ranked as one of the most congested days nationwide.
Construction zones pose an increased risk of traffic jams, with lost lanes due to maintenance work almost guaranteeing tailbacks in the event of accidents or high traffic volume. The following construction sites have been identified as potential sources of gridlock:
- A5 Darmstadt-Heidelberg in both directions between Hemsbach and Hirschberg
- A5 Basel towards Karlsruhe between Rastatt-Nord and Karlsruhe Süd
- A6 Mannheim-Heilbronn in both directions between Kreuz Walldorf and Wiesloch/Rauenberg
- A7 Würzburg-Ulm in both directions between Feuchtwangen-West and Rastplatz Mühlbruck
- A8 Stuttgart-Karlsruhe in both directions between Pforzheim-Süd and Pforzheim-Nord
- A8/A81 at the Leonberg triangle
- A81 Singen-Stuttgart in both directions between Oberndorf am Neckar and Empfingen
For those with the flexibility, the ADAC advises setting off on a short holiday on Wednesday evening or Thursday to minimize travel delays. Friday and Saturday are expected to be much less congested on Baden-Württemberg's motorways. Sunday will experience more traffic jams than a typical Sunday but fewer than on Wednesday, as there will be no commuters on the roads.
Avoiding motorways during traffic jams and opting for country roads may initially seem like a good idea, but detour routes are also prone to congestion. It is advisable to exit the motorway only when traffic jams exceed 10 kilometers or the road is completely closed.
Additionally, the ADAC recommends travelers be aware of potential increased border controls when entering Germany.
Last year, the ADAC recorded 239 traffic jams on Baden-Württemberg's roads on the Wednesday before Ascension Day, totaling 896 kilometers and resulting in a waiting time of 272 hours.
General knowledge suggests that Ascension Day, as a public holiday, typically leads to increased traffic, with highways and major roads experiencing heavier traffic before such holidays, particularly on Thursday afternoons and Fridays. However, without specific data or reports for 2021, there is no detailed account of the exact traffic situation prior to Ascension Day last year. For precise information on traffic conditions during that period, consult regional traffic reports, transport authorities, or news archives from May 2021.
- The transportation industry predicts that the roads in Baden-Württemberg will face substantial congestion during the Ascension Day weekend, especially on Wednesday between 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM, due to a combination of commuters and vacationers.
- The finance sector might propose alternative travel arrangements during the increasingly congested days prior to Ascension Day, such as setting off on a holiday on Wednesday evening or Thursday, to minimize travel delays and related expenses.
- The automotive industry encourages travelers to be mindful of potential increased border controls when entering Germany, and to avoid detour routes during traffic jams on country roads, as they can become congested as well, and only exit the motorway when traffic jams exceed 10 kilometers or the road is completely closed.
