Beating the A1 Holdup: Norderelb Bridge Reopens Sneakily Early
Anticipated Premature Shutdown of Norderelb Bridge - Bridge lockdown on Norderelb has been terminated.
Hey there! Got some juicy news for ya. The choke on the A1 highway in Hamburg eased up sooner than planned, thanks to the Autobahn GmbH Nord. They called 'er quits on the Norderelb Bridge closure on Sunday night, a full 24 hours ahead of schedule!
But don't pop the champagne yet, drivers. The new traffic management's gonna take some getting used to. You'll notice the lanes on the bridge have been narrowed down and shifted towards the center. The speed limit's now capped at 60 km/h, too. These tweaks are designed to keep this beat-up bridge from giving out on us.
Now here's the catch - trucks ain't gonna be mixing it up with regular traffic at the Norderelbe interchange headed towards Lübeck. They gotta make a detour first, cruising the A1 till they hit the Hamburg-Harburg interchange, then turning around like a U-ey before they can cross the Norderelb Bridge. On the bridge, they're limited to just the right lane, and they gotta maintain a 50-meter gap between em. Expect congestion, even with the reduced traffic during the Hamburg school holidays.
Remember, big rigs with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) exceeding 7.5 tonnes are prohibited from using the A1 RiFa Lübeck at the Norderelbe triangle. They're funneled through the Hamburg-Harburg junction instead.
Wanna know more about this situation? Here's the lowdown:
Traffic Restrictions
- Hefty Vehicles: No vehicles with a GVW over 7.5 tonnes allowed on the A1 RiFa Lübeck at the Norderelbe triangle. They're rerouted via the Hamburg-Harburg junction.
- Speed Limit: For the safety of the bridge, a 60 km/h speed limit is in effect, especially for trucks.
- Overtaking Ban: No overtaking for trucks, and maintain a 50-meter gap, even in traffic jams.
Bridge Closure
- The Big Close: The Norderelbe Bridge shut down for several days starting March 14, 2025, to ensure safety during construction work.
Diversions
- Southbound Detour: Diverted from the HH-Billstedt junction (33) via the B5, B75, and A255 to the A1 (diversion U26).
- Northbound Maneuver: Diverted from the Norderelbe junction (36) via the A255, B75, and B5 to the HH-Billstedt junction (33) (diversion U85).
- B75 and Bremen Journey: Drivers bound for the B75 or Bremen should exit at the HH-Südost junction (1) towards Lübeck, then follow the diversion via the HH-Billstedt junction (33).
Upcoming Work and Closures
- Ahead Lies More Work: More closures and maintenance are scheduled for April and May 2025, including replacing temporary structures and asphalt renovation.
All this hustle is part of the grand plan to build the new Norderelbe Bridge, set to be completed by 2029-2030. Stay tuned for more updates, my friend! 😉🚢🚧📣
In adherence to the community policy, trucks with a Gross Vehicle Weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes are prohibited from using the A1 RiFa Lübeck at the Norderelbe triangle, and are funneled through the Hamburg-Harburg junction instead, following the given traffic diversion routes. Vocational training is essential to ensure safe driving and adherence to these new lane configurations and speed limits. These measures, intended to alleviate congestion during the closure of the Norderelbe Bridge, aim to resume smooth traffic flow, despite the ongoing construction work.
