ADAC expects this to be the most congestion-prone weekend of the summer, following the start of the school holidays in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
All 16 German federal states are now on holiday at the same time, an overlap that typically produces the season’s highest traffic volumes.
The greatest risk of long queues is forecast for Friday afternoon and evening and Saturday morning. Return traffic is then expected to increase on Sunday afternoon and evening.
For road freight operators, the surge is likely to mean longer journey times, particularly around roadworks, motorway junctions and other capacity bottlenecks.
Main German motorways face severe pressure
ADAC has identified the A3, A5, A6, A7, A8 and A9 as being among the routes most exposed to congestion.
Heavy traffic is also expected on the A1, A2, A4, A10, A11, A12, A13, A20, A24, A95 and A96, as well as on Munich’s A99 ring road.
Around 1,000 motorway construction sites are currently affecting traffic across Germany, reducing capacity and increasing the risk that relatively minor disruption will lead to longer queues.
Brenner, Gotthard and Fernpass remain major pinch points
Delays are also expected on important international transit routes through Austria, Switzerland and northern Italy.
In Austria, congestion is forecast on the Westautobahn A1, Tauernautobahn A10, Inntalautobahn A12 and Brennerautobahn A13. Ongoing work on the Lueg Bridge continues to disrupt traffic on the Brenner corridor.
The Fernpass road B179 will be closed on Saturday between 09:45 and 12:00 because of a protest. The Hahntennjoch L246 will also remain closed to prevent traffic from using it as an alternative route.
Longer journey times are additionally expected on Switzerland’s Gotthard route, the A2, and on Italy’s A22.
Exit restrictions and border checks could extend delays
Temporary motorway exit closures may be introduced when traffic volumes become particularly high, in an effort to stop vehicles diverting through local communities.
ADAC says such measures could affect sections of the A7, A8 and A93 in Germany, as well as the B2 and B23 federal roads in the Garmisch-Partenkirchen district.
In Austria, a number of alternative routes in the districts of Innsbruck, Innsbruck-Land, Kufstein, Imst and Reutte remain closed to through traffic at weekends.
Hauliers should also allow additional time at German border crossings, where entry checks remain in place and could add to queues during peak travel periods.
