North Rhine-Westphalia
Traffic jam on the A45: Viaduct over the valley bridge near Lüdenscheid for months
For weeks, mile-long traffic jams have been forming at the Lüdenscheid-Mitte exit. The blocked A45 is being rerouted here.
© Markus Klümper / DPA
The full closure of the A45 has been causing problems for drivers in North Rhine-Westphalia for weeks. Cars will probably not be able to use the Sauerland line again until March at the earliest. The bridge section will also remain closed to trucks.
Christmas time is travel time – even in times of Corona. As a result, traffic jams and a high volume of traffic occur throughout Germany in the last few weeks of the year. However, motorists are particularly affected: inside the Sauerland. Thanks to the full closure of the A45 near Lüdenscheid, there are delays lasting for hours.
ADAC recommends driving around the area as far as possible
Trucks and cars have so far been diverted equally via the narrow Volmetal. Since December 2nd there has been a mile-long stop-and-go here during the day. The city of Lüdenscheid has canceled all construction sites on the U16 and U39 diversions and adjusted the traffic lights so that the traffic can flow away better.
Nevertheless, the ADAC recommends driving around the area as much as possible. In the south it is best to use the A1 and A3 from the Westhofener Kreuz. In the north, drivers should switch to the A3 from Frankfurt. If possible, you can bypass the blockage on the A7 or A44.
Residents defend themselves against diversion
Normally 64,000 vehicles drive over the closed A45 viaduct every day. The construction work will therefore lead to far more extensive motorways from the Westhofener Kreuz to the south and from the Olpe-Süd junction to the west and from Cologne-East to the north.
The residents of Lüdenscheid are outraged by the traffic chaos. Short distances now turn into long trips for them. Children often feel insecure on their way to school next to the heavy articulated lorries. Due to the narrow street layout, some of these would also switch to the sidewalks, reports a resident to the WDR. In addition, noise and exhaust fumes cause problems for all residents.
Emergency remediation takes another three months
The important A45 traffic line has been completely closed for several weeks. The reason is a valley bridge near Lüdenscheid that is in danger of collapsing. Serious damage was found to the main girders of the bridge. A 3D scan showed that individual sheets now show deformations of up to 17 millimeters. Only five millimeters are permitted.
The work for emergency reinforcement will take at least another three months. However, the steel structure will probably never again have the load-bearing capacity that it once had. Trucks will probably no longer be able to drive on this section. As things stand today, it is not possible to clearly predict when it could be that time again for cars. The work may be delayed depending on the weather.
In addition, a new bridge is already planned. Such a construction project would take between six and ten years, according to Autobahn GmbH.
Dilapidated bridges: NRW Prime Minister Wüst in the criticism
The new bridge closure is part of a long series of problem cases in North Rhine-Westphalia. Several of the Rhine bridges have been in disrepair for up to ten years – little has happened so far. The reason for the high level of wear and tear is the heavy traffic. Many motorway bridges were built in the 60s and 70s and are no longer suitable for today’s traffic volume.
In the discussion about the ailing Rhine bridges, North Rhine-Westphalia’s Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst is particularly criticized. In his role as transport minister until September, he is said to have not pushed the major construction projects forward enough. The construction site on the Rahmeder Bridge and its consequences will therefore also be an important topic in the run-up to the state elections in May.