Four weekends of disruption on Germany’s A7. A key route will be closed

A key transport route in Germany will be temporarily closed to traffic. Planned closures of the A7 motorway in Hamburg will take place over four weekends, forcing detours for heavy goods transport and transit traffic.

In the first half of the year, four full weekend closures of the A7 motorway are scheduled in connection with the construction of a noise protection tunnel in the Altona district and road infrastructure works. The closures will affect a key section between the Hamburg-Stellingen (26) and Hamburg-Heimfeld (32) interchanges.

A7 closure schedule – first half of 2026
According to the road infrastructure operator, the Autobahn A7 will be completely closed on the following dates:
• March 20–23, 2026
• April 17–20, 2026
• May 8–11, 2026
• June 12–15, 2026

Each closure will last approximately 55 hours, from Friday evening to early Monday morning. During this time, traffic on the affected section will be halted in both directions, and entry ramps will be closed in stages before the full closure begins.

❌ Transit traffic will be diverted via the Autobahn A1, Autobahn A21 and the federal road B205.
This route allows drivers to bypass Hamburg and rejoin the A7 in the Schleswig-Holstein region. The closures are part of a major A7 modernization project in Hamburg, including the construction of a noise protection tunnel in the Altona district. The project предусматривает expansion of the motorway to eight lanes, construction of a tunnel structure to reduce noise for residents, and modernization of road infrastructure and safety systems.

The A7 motorway is one of the most important transport corridors in Europe, connecting southern Germany with the north of the country, Denmark and Scandinavian countries. Therefore, any closure in the Hamburg area—especially near Elbe crossings—may cause significant disruptions to heavy goods traffic and increase travel times on international routes.