Drivers in part of Germany faced road closures and traffic disruptions on Tuesday after the Verdi trade union called for warning strikes across the public sector, especially targeting road and tunnel infrastructure.
The strikes come after stalled negotiations between Verdi, Autobahn GmbH and the collective bargaining association of the federal states.
Verdi, which represents around 14,000 employees of Autobahn GmbH and thousands more in state road authorities, is demanding a seven percent pay rise (or at least €300 per month) and better conditions for road construction workers.
The warning strikes, which are particularly focussed in North Rhine-Westphalia and northern Germany, involve simultaneous work stoppages at key traffic control centres and maintenance depots.
Motorists, cyclists and even pedestrians in northern Germany and North Rhine-Westphalia should prepare for significant delays, detours and closures on major routes. Drivers passing through these areas would be advised to check their route before starting off.
The strikes are expected to impact both local and long-distance travel.
Commercial and delivery traffic is also likely to face longer routes and increased travel times, especially where key infrastructure is closed.
The labour union does stress, however, that emergency services remain in full operation.
Here are the major closures drivers can expect:
Disruptions in Northern Germany
Hamburg Elbe Tunnel (A7): Only partially open, with one of three lanes closed in each direction. Expect heavy congestion until Tuesday evening.
Jann-Berghaus Bridge (Leer, East Frisia): Closed to all traffic (motorists, cyclists, pedestrians) from 6 am to 11 pm. Detour via the Emstunnel (A31). Increased traffic should be expected there.
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Weser Tunnel (Wesermarsch): Closed to all vehicles. The Weser ferry Bremerhaven-Nordenham will run more frequently (5 am to 11 pm), but waiting times and delays are likely.
Other closures include:
- Bovenden Tunnel (B3, Göttingen district)
- Butterberg Tunnel (B241, Göttingen district)
- Swing bridge near Stade (L111)
Disruptions in North Rhine-Westphalia
While tunnels on motorways are not affected, eleven major tunnels on federal and state roads were expected to be closed, including:
- B42 Oberdollendorf Tunnel (Königswinter, northbound)
- B42 Oberdollendorf Galerie (Königswinter, northbound open)
- B42 Tunnel Oberkassel (Bonn, northbound)
- B61 Weserauentunnel (Porta Westfalica)
- B62 BĂĽhltunnel (Siegen)
- L70 Kiesbergtunnel (Wuppertal)
- L107 Tunnel Velbert-Langenberg (Velbert)
- L614 Emmerauentunnel (LĂĽgde)
- L697 Hestenbergtunnel (Plettenberg)
- L751 Menkhauser Berg Tunnel (Oerlinghausen)
- L666n Engelbert Tunnel (Gevelsberg)
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Be prepared
Before setting out, residents are advised to check live traffic updates, as not all routes will have diversions in place, and to allow extra time for journeys, particularly if your route depends on tunnels or bridges affected by the strikes.
Where possible, consider using alternative routes or public transport to avoid the worst of the disruption.
Even on detour routes, drivers should be prepared for delays, as traffic is likely to be heavier than usual.
Additionally, Verdi has called for strike actions at numerous road authority's administrative offices in Hanover, Cologne, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Mannheim, Karlsruhe, Freiburg, Nuremberg, Halle, Berlin, Rostock, Montabaur, Rosenheim, Regensburg and Kiel. But these should not have a direct impact on drivers.
With reporting by DPA
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