Anticipates Multiple Traffic Bottlenecks During the Ascension Day Holiday Weekend (According to ADAC) - Anticipated road congestion during the Ascension weekend, according to ADAC predictions.
Heavy Traffic Expected During Ascension Weekend in North Rhine-Westphalia
Drivers must be prepared for increased congestion and lengthy delays during the upcoming Ascension weekend, with Wednesday set to be one of the most congested days of the year, according to the Automobile Club of Germany (ADAC).
Last year, the day before Ascension held 779 congestion hours, making it one of the top ten congested days of the year. The primary culprits are the numerous construction sites and an influx of short vacationers. Although North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) does not have any official school holidays on Friday, many students still have a flexible day off, opening up more opportunities for travel. In other federal states, the bridge day is commonly declared a school holiday, leading to increased family vacations.
Construction sites pose a significant threat to traffic flow, with approximately 700 currently active in NRW. Roman Suthold, Head of the Traffic and Environment department at ADAC North Rhine, warns that areas with reduced lanes present a high risk of congestion and that the motorways around Cologne and the Ruhr region will be particularly overwhelmed.
The ADAC expects the peak traffic congestion to occur between 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM on Wednesday due to commuter and recreational vehicle traffic merging on the roads. Travelers who set off in the evening or on Thursday are likely to experience faster and more relaxed journeys.
The return traffic on Sunday afternoon will also cause increased congestion; however, since commuters will not be on the road, this congestion may not reach the same levels as at the beginning of the long weekend, according to Suthold.
Avoiding a motorway traffic jam via a county road typically offers little advantage, the ADAC advises. Often, alternative routes become congested as well, making it only sensible to deviate from the motorway for traffic jams exceeding ten kilometers in length or in case of a complete closure.
Key Points for Navigating Traffic during Ascension Weekend in NRW:
- Police patrols and controls will increase during the Ascension Day celebrations, particularly in locations popular for gatherings such as Löhne, Bad Oeynhausen, and Spenge.
- Check ongoing roadworks on major routes for potential congestion and detours.
- Note that truck driving bans may affect the traffic patterns in NRW, so verify if any apply during your travel period.
- Plan trips for less crowded times, like early mornings or late evenings, to avoid the peak departure and return times.
- Consider secondary roads or regional routes to bypass congested areas and use public transportation to avoid road traffic entirely.
- Stay updated on real-time traffic updates from the ADAC, navigation apps, or local traffic websites.
- Be aware of increased police controls and local event-related slowdowns around key celebration locations.
By taking these steps informed by ADAC's traffic expectations and the current realities in NRW during Ascension weekend, drivers can substantially decrease the risk of getting caught in traffic jams.
- Adhering to the community policy and employment policy of the Automobile Club of Germany (ADAC) during Ascension weekend, employees should consider adjusting their work schedules to avoid peak travel hours, reducing the possibility of getting caught in heavy traffic.
- Considering the increased traffic congestion during the Ascension weekend, individuals planning to take a vacation might choose destinations that allow for a more relaxed lifestyle away from the congested routes, such as rural areas or regions with ample public transportation options, rather than relying solely on personal vehicles.
