The German automobile club ADAC has issued a warning of a “traffic jam weekend,” particularly along popular holiday routes heading south. The forecast comes as school holidays begin in several additional federal states. Starting this weekend, 14 of Germany’s 16 states will be on school break. Although Bavaria’s summer holidays officially start a week later, ADAC still expects heavy congestion on highways around the Bavarian capital.
ADAC Predicts High Traffic Volumes – Munich Will Not Be Spared
Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Schleswig-Holstein are joining the list of holidaying states this weekend, marking one of the busiest travel phases of the summer. According to ADAC, routes heading south are likely to experience exceptionally high traffic volumes.
The highest risk of traffic jams is expected on Friday afternoon, Saturday morning, and Sunday afternoon. ADAC advises those who can to avoid traveling during these peak periods and instead consider less busy days, such as Tuesday through Thursday, or use alternative routes where possible.
Critical Routes Around Munich Likely to Be Affected
ADAC has identified several key routes in the Munich area where drivers are likely to encounter traffic jams and delays over the weekend:
A95 / B2 Munich – Garmisch-Partenkirchen
A99 Munich ring road
A9 Berlin – Halle/Leipzig – Nuremberg – Munich
A8 Karlsruhe – Stuttgart – Munich – Salzburg
Nighttime Closure on A96 Near Munich Adds to Traffic Pressure
Further complicating the situation is a full overnight closure of the A96 toward Munich. The highway will be completely closed between Germering-Süd and Gräfelfing from Friday, July 25, at 8:00 p.m. until Saturday, July 26, at 5:00 a.m. This closure is expected to cause additional traffic congestion and delays in the greater Munich area, particularly for vacationers heading south.
Delays on the Brenner Motorway Due to Construction at the Lueg Bridge
Drivers continuing their holiday journey through Munich toward Italy should also anticipate further delays. Construction work is currently underway on the Lueg Bridge section of the Brenner motorway. According to ADAC, although the route remains two lanes in each direction on weekends and public holidays, the risk of traffic congestion remains high through the end of September.
ADAC Recommends Careful Planning and Flexibility
ADAC recommends that all travelers plan their journeys in advance, stay updated with real-time traffic reports, and, if possible, choose to travel on days and times with less traffic. Exploring alternative routes is also advised in order to avoid the heavily congested main corridors.
