Heat damage on highways: A2 and A14 in Saxony-Anhalt closed indefinitely

Background: How heat destroys asphalt

The background to the closures, according to the ADAC, is the extreme heat, which has caused the road surface to crack in some places. Such so-called blow-ups occur when asphalt slabs expand in extreme heat and shift against each other. The result is cracks, deformations, and sudden unevenness that can become a danger for drivers.

The situation is also tense in other federal states. According to the ADAC, on the A10 between Berlin-Marzahn and Hellersdorf toward Frankfurt (Oder), the left lane remains closed due to heat damage. In Bavaria, there is road surface damage on the A93 between Weiden-Süd and Luhe Wildenau toward Regensburg, which is why the left lane is expected to remain closed until next week. On the A9 near Ingolstadt, repairs are necessary in both directions.

Other affected routes in Germany

Motorists also have to drive more slowly on the A48 in Rhineland-Palatinate at the Rhine bridge near Bendorf as well as on the A3 near Wiesbaden in Hesse. On the A7 in southern Hamburg, one lane toward the north is closed over the weekend. Already on the third June weekend, heat damage on the A1 and A13 had caused traffic disruptions, according to the ADAC.

Situation in Austria: ÖAMTC warns of more damage

In Austria, the ÖAMTC is warning of an increase in road damage due to the persistently high temperatures. "Besonders gefährdet seien alte, mehrfach reparierte Straßen", the ÖAMTC announced on Sunday via press release. It advised driving with foresight and urged that any damage noticed be reported to the police or the responsible road maintenance offices.

On the West Autobahn (A1) at the construction site between Haag and St. Valentin toward Linz, only one lane was passable over the weekend. Despite low traffic volumes on Sunday, traffic backed up there for two to three kilometers. The first heat damage in this section had already been reported on Saturday.

ÖBB ask travelers to postpone non-essential trips

The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) had already appealed on Friday to "nicht unbedingt notwendige Bahnreisen in den kommenden Tagen zu verschieben oder zu vermeiden". Train travelers were advised to find out about their connection in advance and to allow for longer travel times.

The ADAC and the ÖAMTC advise drivers to check the traffic situation before starting a journey and to plan detours if necessary. Bringing along sufficient water and planning additional breaks is also advisable in view of the temperatures.

How long the closures on the A2 and A14 in Saxony-Anhalt will last is currently unclear. The federal Autobahn GmbH announced that the damage would be repaired as quickly as possible, but did not name a specific date for the reopening.