The big summer traffic jams are over, but the risk of traffic jams remains high on some highways. Which routes this concerns and how you can perhaps avoid traffic jams.
Danger of traffic jams: High traffic volumes are expected on many motorways at the end of the holidays in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Photo: dpa-infografik GmbH/dpa-tmn
Munich/Berlin. The summer holidays are only still ongoing in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The Auto Club Europa (ACE) therefore has good news: “The big traffic jams of the summer are behind us,” notes the traffic club in its forecast for the coming weekend (September 4th to 9th). But that's only half the story.
The volume of travel remains high - and with it the risk of traffic jams on many highways. According to the ADAC, “the return wave is rolling,” also because many drivers from Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria are heading home - the end of the holiday is at least already on the horizon there too.
In addition, there are always travelers and - especially when the weather is nice - short vacationers and day trippers on the streets, regardless of such appointments. This applies especially to routes towards the Alps, the low mountain ranges and to the coasts and lakes. Around 1,000 construction sites and planned full closures of motorway sections are also slowing down traffic in some places.
Then there is the greatest risk of traffic jams
According to the clubs, most delays are to be expected on Friday, Saturday morning and afternoon, and from Sunday lunchtime. But the ACE still predicts a medium risk of traffic jams for Sunday evening until around 8 p.m. - depending on the route.
Those who can should continue to plan quieter alternative routes or switch to another travel day, according to the ACE. Suitable days of the week for particularly flexible travelers are Tuesday and Wednesday. However, you should also avoid rush hour
If you have to drive on the weekend, you should start as early as possible in the morning or consider a night trip. Sunday is usually preferable to Saturday as a travel day because of the truck driving bans. Since these are still relaxed in some federal states, heavy trucks can also be expected on Sundays.
The traffic jam routes in Germany at a glance
Both traffic clubs expect more traffic and traffic jams (often in both directions) between Friday and Sunday in the greater Stuttgart and Munich areas, on the trunk roads and branch routes to the North and Baltic Seas and on the following German motorways:
There is also less going on in Austria and Switzerland, but...
The peak has also been passed in Austria, and here too: “The biggest traffic jams of the summer are over,” notes the ACE. But complete peace has not yet returned. There is a lot of traffic returning home towards Germany, in the east of Austria and around Vienna. But new travelers to the Austrian holiday areas are also filling the transit routes in a southerly direction.
The ADAC expects a lot of traffic on numerous transit routes. The following are particularly at risk of congestion:
A 1 (western motorway)
A 4 (eastern motorway)
A 9 (Pyhrn motorway)
A 10 (Tauern motorway)
A 11 (Karavankan motorway to and from Slovenia)
A 12 (Inntal motorway)
A 13 (Brenner motorway to and from Italy)
A 14 (Rheintal/Walgau motorway)
B 179 (Fernpass)
B 197 (Arlberg federal road)
In Switzerland, travelers should allow more time on the Gotthard route (A 2), among other places. The ACE expects “significantly less travel traffic on the transit routes, both in the south and north”, which will particularly relieve the pressure on the Gotthard route. Longer delays are not to be expected, but “shorter traffic jams are still possible,” according to the traffic club.
If the travel time on the Gotthard route is longer than an hour, the San Bernardino route (A 13) can be an alternative. However, delays cannot be ruled out there either. There could also be a lot going on at times on the A 1 (Bern - Zurich) and the A 3 (Basel - Chur).
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