Drivers must expect longer traffic jams on Thursday and Friday due to a complete closure on Autobahn 3 in Middle Franconia. The A 3 between Pommersfelden and Höchstadt-Ost is expected to remain completely closed in both directions until Friday afternoon at 3 p.m., a spokesman for network operator Bayernwerk said on Thursday. According to the police, the reason for the closure is an accident at a construction site. It was initially assumed that the route could be reopened on Thursday afternoon.
During construction work in the area of the Höchstadt junction (Erlangen-Höchstadt district), a power line was torn down on Wednesday evening, according to a police statement. A construction worker got stuck with his 28 meter high drilling excavator on the overhead lines of a power line leading over the A3. Two of the four cables were reportedly torn off. The remaining cables were also damaged and threatened to fall onto the highway.
During the night, the diversion routes had already “reached their limit” due to the large number of trucks, as a spokesman for the highway maintenance department announced. The full closure is “certainly no fun” for commuters who have to be prepared for long traffic jams. The spokesman did not provide any information about the exact duration.
For safety reasons, the repairs did not begin until it was light. According to the police, special equipment and a large lifting platform first had to be brought to the scene of the accident. Before the ropes can be repaired, the mast must first be secured, said a spokesman for Bayernwerk. “We understand that every minute counts.” Efforts are being made to “do the repairs as quickly as possible” while ensuring safety for the workers.
According to police reports, no one was injured in the industrial accident. The cables were without power. According to a police spokesman, the construction worker was probably negligent. However, no investigations were initially initiated. The spokesman did not provide any information about the amount of damage caused.