German highways face closures and winter delays this weekend
Motorists in Germany can expect a mix of challenges and smooth sailing this weekend, with several major highways closed for construction and early winter weather adding to the mix. Despite the lack of holiday traffic, delays are possible in both directions.
Over 1,100 construction sites across Germany's Autobahn network are causing speed limits, lane closures, and diversions in November. The Autobahn GmbH des Bundes, managing around 13,000 kilometers of autobahns, is responsible for these works. Notably, long-term closures with nationwide impact include A3, A45, and A59. Additionally, several major highways will be fully closed over the weekend, particularly in North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and Bavaria.
Early winter weather is also complicating travel. Fog and black ice in Alpine regions are causing issues, with some high mountain passes closed. Roadworks are also causing delays abroad, particularly in Austria and at German borders, where random border controls are resulting in wait times.
Despite these challenges, the weekend is expected to be unusually calm with low travel activity and largely smooth conditions, except at usual bottleneck spots. Motorists can use the free fuel price app 'Mehr Tanken' to cut fuel costs by providing real-time updates on fuel prices and the cheapest nearby stations. However, drivers should be prepared for potential delays, especially on major highways.
