Status: 09.01.2023 12:15 p.m
The Autobahn 7 is still closed to the south between Northeim-Nord and Lutterberg due to cleaning measures. An unknown vehicle had lost the chemical paraffin.
Detours have been set up via the A2, the A33 and the A44 via Paderborn and Kassel. According to a police spokeswoman, the detour routes are “completely overloaded”. On the federal and country roads around Göttingen and Hann. Münden, the traffic is slow – the federal highway 3 is particularly affected. The police advises to bypass the areas extensively. In addition to the commuter traffic, school in Lower Saxony starts again after the Christmas holidays.
Sweepers from Hesse work their way north
As the Autobahnmeisterei reported on NDR request, the contamination is the chemical paraffin. This can only be cleaned with hot water, as Stephan Fürsten, head of the motorway maintenance department, said. Around 250,000 liters would be needed. Ten road sweepers have been in use since 8 a.m., extending from the Hann. Münden/Lutterberg to the north. According to Fürsten, the machines had to be requested from Hesse.
Unblock section by section
According to experts, the paraffin hardened after it escaped.
It is unclear how long the cleaning work will take. The sweepers move around 120 meters an hour, said Steffen Schütz, spokesman for the infrastructure project company VIA Lower Saxony, the NDR in Lower Saxony. Accordingly, it could take days for all lanes heading south to be cleaned and safe to drive on. According to Schütz, around 30 of the 50 kilometers of dirty road are in the area of VIA Lower Saxony. According to Stephan Fürsten from the Autobahnmeisterei, the blockage should be lifted in sections from driveway to driveway depending on the progress of the work.
White powder causes extreme smoothness
The unknown vehicle that the white powder between Northeim-Nord and Hann. Münden/Lutterberg lost on Sunday has not been identified, according to the police. Police are asking witnesses to come under the Telephone number (0551) 4 91 65 15 Report to. According to the current state of investigation, the substance, which is probably initially liquid, could have escaped from a truck, according to a statement. She had hardened on the asphalt. Several road users slipped on the slippery surface. There were no accidents. The substance does not pose a risk to humans or the environment.
Further information
