According to a forecast by the German automobile club ADAC, a clear rise in traffic volumes is expected already from today (Wednesday). Many drivers will set off earlier to avoid the worst congestion. The peak congestion will fall on Maundy Thursday, especially in the afternoon and evening. That’s when the longest tailbacks are expected on the main routes.
It will be significantly calmer on Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday – these are the days with the lightest traffic. Another wave of disruptions will appear on Easter Monday. Return trips will generate numerous traffic jams, especially in the afternoon and evening.
School holidays increase traffic
In twelve German federal states, the Easter school holidays have already begun, and will beging in Saxony, Thuringia and Saarland soon.
This means even more travellers will be on the roads. Trips to the North Sea and the Baltic Sea remain popular, as do journeys to the Alpine regions, where the winter sport season is still ongoing.
The result will be a clearly higher traffic density on the main transport corridors.
Where to expect the worst traffic jams
The biggest disruptions will occur on key motorways in both directions, including:
- A1: Cologne – Dortmund – Münster – Hamburg
- A2: Oberhausen – Dortmund and Brunswick – Magdeburg
- A3: Oberhausen – Frankfurt – Nuremberg – Passau
- A4: Aachen – Cologne – Görlitz
- A5: Heidelberg – Karlsruhe – Basel
- A6: Mannheim – Heilbronn – Nuremberg
- A7: Hamburg – Hanover – Ulm – Füssen
- A8: Karlsruhe – Stuttgart – Munich – Salzburg
- A9: Berlin – Nuremberg – Munich
- A10: Berlin ring road
- A81: Heilbronn – Stuttgart – Singen
- A93: Inntaldreieck – Kufstein
- A95/B2: Munich – Garmisch-Partenkirchen
- A99: Munich ring road
It is on these sections that drivers should expect the biggest delays and longer journey times.
Disruptions also outside Germany
Traffic flow problems will not be limited to Germany. Delays should also be expected on Europe’s main tourist routes.
In Austria, the Tauern, Inntal and Brenner motorways will be the most heavily loaded between Innsbruck and the Brenner Pass.
In Switzerland, traffic jams may occur on the A1, A2 and A3 motorways, while in Italy especially on the route via the Brenner Pass and in mountain regions such as Pustertal and Vinschgau.
In addition, border checks are still possible when entering Germany, which may extend waiting times.
