reading time
A Germany-wide celebrity will lose swords in the future. As a perennial hit in the traffic news, the Westhofener Kreuz, notorious for its traffic jams, has brought the Ruhr city a dubious reputation throughout Germany.
Due to a large-scale conversion, traffic at the junction should roll more smoothly in a few years. In order to prepare for the measure, motorists will have to put up with short-term disabilities again in the coming week.
Detour with red dot
Autobahn GmbH Westfalen (Hagen) is conducting subsoil investigations at the Westhofener Kreuz in the night from Tuesday (13 June) to Wednesday (14 June), as reported by Susanne Schlenga from the Communications Office. To do this, the connection from the A1 in the direction of Bremen to the A45 in the direction of Dortmund must be blocked from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
During the work, drivers with signs showing a red dot will be directed to a detour via the Schwerte junction. Rescue vehicles on duty – it is said – do not have to take any detours: They could also use the blocked connection ramp during the work.
Conversion is scheduled to start in 2025
Most recently, soil investigations were carried out at other points of the Westhofener Kreuz in January. With deep boreholes and ram probes, the technicians explored the subsoil in other areas of the junction, which is to be extensively renovated from 2025.
The focus of the planning is a so-called “high-flyer” so that traffic – similar to what has already happened in the Kamener Kreuz – no longer has to turn through the cloverleaf. In addition, the Sauerland line will be widened to three lanes in the busy section between Westhofen and Hagen.
Bridges need to be renewed
Before the actual expansion can begin, however, the bridges on which the A1 crosses the A45 at Westhofener Kreuz must be replaced. Because what looks like a single structure to the eye at first glance is in reality a quartet of four bridges arranged side by side, which carry the respective main lanes and the parallel lanes. The overpasses cannot cope with the increased traffic loads, so they have to be renewed.
Large construction site for five years
Around 190,000 vehicles currently struggle through the Westhofener Kreuz every day. More than 60,000 of them take the opportunity to change highways. The federal government is investing around 222 million euros in the fight against permanent traffic jams at this junction. Until everything is finished, the area is expected to be a major construction site for a period of five years.
2023-06-11 07:01:12
#Preparation #major #renovation #Important #connection #Westhofener #Kreuz #closed
