Elbe tunnel closed: chaos on the A7 on the holiday weekend!

Elbe tunnel closed: chaos on the A7 on the holiday weekend!

The Hamburg Elbe Tunnel will be completely closed for three days from Friday, July 4th to Monday, July 7th, 2025. This is not only causing great concern among commuters and travelers, especially since the lockdown coincides with the start of the summer holidays in Bremen and Lower Saxony. From 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following Monday, the A7 is closed in both directions between the Hamburg-Stellingen and Hamburg-Heimfeld junctions. The ramp closures begin at several junctions from 9 p.m. in order to inform road users of the restrictions in good time, as merkur.de reports.

The reason for this comprehensive measure is the integration of all tunnels on the A7 into the new tunnel control center and the expansion of the roadway to the south. New traffic sign gantries will be installed and existing bridges will be technically upgraded. Traffic experts expect longer traffic jams and significant time losses. Diversions will be set up: Vehicles coming from the south can be diverted onto the A1 from the Buchholzer triangle via the Maschener Kreuz, while traffic from the north will be diverted onto the B205 from the Neumünster-Süd junction.

Recommendations for road users

Local traffic in particular will be redirected inner-city during the closures, which could lead to high traffic volumes in Hamburg's city center. The ADAC recommends switching to public transport during the lockdown, especially for trips to Hamburg Airport. In the past, similar closures have led to increased volumes of city traffic, as was also seen in the last full closure of the A7 in the area around the Elbe Tunnel. As ndr.de reports, this was lifted again after a weekend, but left the city center with a high volume of traffic.

The authorities have already announced further full and partial closures on the A7 in Hamburg for the rest of the year. On a total of nine other dates, including from July 18th to 21st and November 14th to 17th, the A7 will be the focus of major construction work, which will generally last 55 hours each. Additional closures have also been announced on the alternative route A1, which further complicates the situation for road users.

Current construction sites in Hamburg

There are numerous construction sites in Hamburg that also influence the traffic situation. These can be accessed on the City of Hamburg website, where users can view the locations of current construction sites on federal trunk and main roads. The map shows construction sites lasting at least three days, with detailed information available by clicking on the respective symbol. Anyone who needs support or information about construction sites can inquire about the city's construction site hotline, which can be reached Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. under the number (040) 42828-2020, as stated on hamburg.de.

The upcoming closures and the associated diversions will undoubtedly pose a challenge for all road users in Hamburg. Everyone can find the best tips and current information directly on the relevant city and ADAC pages.