No A26 in 2026 - What's Happening with Hamburg's Highway Construction - Hamburg’s endless roadworks: Why drivers face years of delays ahead
Hamburg’s roads remain a patchwork of delays and unfinished projects. While some repairs are nearing completion, major upgrades and new constructions face years of waiting. Drivers will see little relief in 2024, with key routes still under long-term disruption.
The New Elbe Bridge renovation has seen another setback. Inbound repairs, originally due by January 2024, were completed on schedule. However, the full project won’t resume until November 2026.
On the A25, repairs are progressing better. By late summer 2024, both directions should reopen without restrictions. This follows months of lane closures and reduced capacity.
The A7 widening, started in 2014, drags on. The motorway is being expanded to eight lanes north and south of the Elbe Tunnel. But the work won’t finish before the end of 2029.
One bright spot is the Hamburg-Hafen Motorway Interchange. Its structure is now complete, though the A26-West connection won’t open until 2028. Meanwhile, the A26-Ost (Hafenpassage) remains stalled. A court ruling blocked its start in 2024, with construction now pushed to 2027—if revised plans gain approval.
Other critical projects linger in limbo. The Norderelbe Bridge on the A1 has suffered severe restrictions since March 2023. Funding for its replacement may arrive in fall 2024, but no work has begun. The Köhlbrand Bridge, another ageing structure, also awaits a replacement date.
The Altona Noise Protection Tunnel offers a rare timeline. It is set for completion in late 2029, though drivers will endure years of disruption first.
Hamburg’s road network remains in a state of prolonged upheaval. Some repairs, like those on the A25, will ease congestion by late 2024. But major projects, from the A7 widening to the A26-Ost, stretch far into the decade. Until then, delays and detours will stay part of daily travel.
