Steel girder falls onto A81 during bridge construction work, motorway closed

Extent of the closure

The A81, a major motorway connecting the Stuttgart metropolitan region with southern Germany and Switzerland, was closed in both directions following the incident. Police expect restrictions to continue at least into the late afternoon. „Die Polizei rechnet noch mit Einschränkungen „mindestens bis in den späten Nachmittag hinein“.“ The closure affects traffic moving between Singen and the greater Stuttgart area, with knock-on effects reported at the A864 junction and on routes through Rottweil.

The Bad Dürrheim interchange sits at a critical point on the A81, where the motorway intersects with regional roads feeding into the Black Forest spa town of Bad Dürrheim and the surrounding districts. With the junction itself closed, drivers have been diverted onto secondary roads through Geisingen and surrounding communities, putting additional strain on local infrastructure. Local authorities have asked motorists to avoid the area or delay non-essential travel.

Impact on local traffic

The Autobahn GmbH Niederlassung Südwest, the federal company responsible for the motorway in southwestern Germany, is responsible for managing the incident site and coordinating the recovery of the fallen girder. Engineers were dispatched to assess damage to the roadway and to determine whether the remaining three girders of the support structure had been compromised. The company has not yet released information about the cause of the failure.

Traffic management services set up diversion routes along parallel federal highways, but warned that congestion was building on approach roads. Reports from the scene indicated long queues forming near Singen and on the A864 approach. Travellers heading toward Switzerland were advised to consider rerouting via alternative crossings.

Recovery and inspection work

The incident comes at the start of the summer holiday travel season in Baden-Württemberg, a period when the A81 typically sees heavy traffic from holidaymakers heading south. Motorway officials noted that the timing of the collapse, in the early morning before peak traffic volumes, may have prevented a more serious outcome. No injuries were reported in the initial hours after the event, according to the Autobahn GmbH Niederlassung Südwest spokesperson.

Recovery crews worked to remove the fallen girder from the carriageway while structural engineers inspected the three remaining girders for signs of stress or displacement. The company said the motorway would remain closed until the support structure was confirmed safe and the roadway had been cleared and inspected for surface damage. Officials did not provide an estimate for full reopening beyond the late afternoon window cited by police.

The Bad Dürrheim interchange has been a focus of construction activity in recent years as part of ongoing upgrades to the A81 corridor. The current project involves the replacement and reinforcement of bridge structures along a stretch that includes the junctions at Geisingen and Rottweil. The Autobahn GmbH Niederlassung Südwest said it would publish further information once the cause of the collapse had been determined.

Diversion advice for drivers

Commuters in the region were urged to check traffic updates before setting out and to follow posted diversion signs. Public transport options between Singen and Stuttgart were running as scheduled, according to initial reports, providing an alternative for travellers needing to reach destinations along the corridor. Police and motorway officials said they would provide further updates as the recovery operation progressed.

By mid-morning, traffic had begun to back up along the diversion routes, with delays reported on local roads around Bad Dürrheim and Geisingen. Authorities reiterated their request that motorists avoid the area if possible. The Autobahn GmbH Niederlassung Südwest said it expected to provide an initial damage assessment by early afternoon.