Hitting the Road? Watch Out for Traffic Jams in Southwestern Germany This Holiday Weekend
Holiday traffic will surge on southwest highways in the evening. - Southwestern streets set for mass influx by holiday's end.
Get ready for bumper-to-bumper traffic, folks! Motorists in Baden-Württemberg and southwestern Germany should buckle up for some gridlock during Corpus Christi and the winding down of the Whitsun holidays. The German Automobile Association (ADAC) Baden-Württemberg has issued a warning, particularly for motorways heading north, expecting increased traffic[2]. Many are opting for a quick getaway, and the end of the two-week Whitsun holidays in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria on Sunday adds to the congestion.
The ADAC anticipates heavy traffic on motorways as numerous vacationers return, with Sunday afternoon being a hotspot for traffic jams[3]. Interestingly, Corpus Christi itself may offer some respite, as many short vacationers are expected to hit the road on Wednesday afternoon[4].
ADAC’s Holger Bach offers some sage advice: for those with flexible schedules, Thursday might be the smartest pick. For those stuck with weekend travel, aim for travel before 8:00 AM and after 6:00 PM to dodge major traffic jams[5].
Top congested routes include:
- A5 (Basel - Karlsruhe - Heidelberg)
- A6 (Nuremberg - Heilbronn - Mannheim)
- A7 (Füssen - Ulm - Würzburg)
- A8 (Munich - Stuttgart - Karlsruhe)
- A81 (Singen - Stuttgart - Heilbronn)
- Greater Stuttgart area
Several ongoing construction zones are only adding to the traffic chaos. The A8 near Pforzheim and the A6 between Walldorf interchange and Wiesloch have the highest traffic jam potential[6]. Last year, the total length of traffic jams in the state at the end of the Whitsun holidays (Sunday) stood at 416 kilometers[7].
Traffic jams are also expected in Austria and Switzerland, where Corpus Christi is celebrated as well. Motorists can anticipate congestion on the Tauern and Brenner motorways and at the Gotthard tunnel. Given the anticipated high temperatures, the ADAC advises carrying sufficient drinks and taking regular breaks. Never leave children or pets in the car during the sizzling weather[7].
Tips to beat the traffic:
- Avoid peak travel periods: Friday afternoon, Saturday morning and early afternoon, and Sunday afternoon.
- Travel outside peak hours: Before Friday afternoon, late Friday evening, later on Saturday afternoon or evening after the early afternoon peak, and before Sunday afternoon or late Sunday evening.
[1] Source: ADAC[2] Source: ADAC Baden-Württemberg[3] Source: ADAC Expert Holger Bach[4] Source: ADAC Expert Holger Bach[5] Source: ADAC Expert Holger Bach[6] Source: ADAC Baden-Württemberg[7] Source: ADAC Baden-Württemberg
- In anticipation of increased traffic due to the holiday weekend and end of the Whitsun holidays, various employment policies for highway maintenance workers in the affected regions may need to be flexibly adjusted to manage the workload.
- With this surge in travel, the industry of transportation, including public-transit services, may benefit financially as more people opt for alternative modes of travel to avoid traffic congestion.
- While planning their holiday travel, individuals should consider lifestyle choices that promote sustainability, such as carpooling or choosing eco-friendly modes of transportation like electric vehicles to reduce the environmental impact of the increased traffic.
