A1 in Hamburg: full closure until Monday – traffic jam chaos expected!

A1 in Hamburg: full closure until Monday – traffic jam chaos expected!

The A1 motorway in Hamburg will be completely closed in both directions until Monday morning, September 22, 2025, at 5 a.m. This measure affects the section between the Hamburg-Billstedt junction and the Norderelbe motorway triangle and came into force late on Friday evening, September 19, 2025. How NDR Reportedly, the closure resulted in kilometer-long traffic jams, particularly in the direction of Lübeck, Berlin and Bremen.

For drivers traveling towards Lübeck or Berlin, there is a diversion via the A255 and B75 to the New Elbbrücken to the B5, which flows back onto the A1 at the Hamburg-Billstedt junction. Drivers looking for the route to Hamburg-Centrum, Bremen or Hanover use the route in the opposite direction. Road users from the direction of Geesthacht should leave the A25 in Hamburg-Allermöhe and drive via Ring 2 to the Horner ramp. It is also recommended to use supra-regional routes such as the A7, where longer waiting times have already been reported both north and south of the Elbe Tunnel.

Reasons for blocking

The full closure is taking place in order for Deutsche Bahn to carry out renovation work on the Moorfleet Tunnel, which passes under both the Hamburg-Berlin railway line and the S-Bahn line. This includes necessary concrete renovation work, such as autobahn.de informed. Autobahn GmbH is using the opportunity to maintain the roadway in the Moorfleet tunnel and to replace the transition structures on the Norderelb Bridge. In addition, the highway maintenance department and other construction measures in the greater Hamburg area are coordinated to minimize the impact on traffic.

The A1 is one of the busiest motorways in Germany, used by around 131,000 vehicles every day. It represents an important traffic axis between the Baltic Sea region and Hamburg, which underlines the need for maintenance work. As the Hamburg police note, traffic could also be influenced by a football match between Hamburger SV and 1. FC Heidenheim in the Volksparkstadion, which could make the traffic jams even worse.

Important information for travelers

The closure also affects the junctions, which were closed at 9 p.m. on Friday, September 19th. There are several diversion options for drivers that are designed to direct traffic flows in the best possible way. This is particularly important to avoid traffic jams and maintain traffic flow. For further information on passage widths and possible construction sites, travelers should visit the website www.autobahn.de.

The work is dependent on the weather and could therefore be postponed at short notice. However, it is still hoped that the necessary measures can be implemented quickly and without major delays. So stay patient and informed during this necessary renovation work!