Risk of traffic jams at Whitsun: bottlenecks on Saxony's freeways

The traffic on Saxony's freeways will be tight before Whitsun. The big stress test is expected on Friday afternoon, when rush hour traffic meets the onset of the travel wave, as Julia Grotjahn from Autobahn GmbH des Bundes explained in response to a dpa query. "The volume of traffic will also remain high on Saturday morning (May 23)." Whitsun is one of the most congested weekends of the year, according to the German automobile club ADAC.

The reason: many people use the Whitsun weekend for excursions and short trips. Unlike in Saxony, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Saxony-Anhalt also have Whitsun vacations lasting one to two weeks. In addition to the higher volume of traffic, a number of roadworks will cause traffic jams. Not only do cars and trucks move more slowly on these sections, there are also fewer lanes available.

These freeway sections are particularly affected

The current congestion risk map from Autobahn GmbH shows the entire A4 in Saxony, the sections of the A13 (Dresden-Berlin) and A17 (Dresden-Prague) as well as the A72 Chemnitz-Hof in orange due to heavy traffic. Major roadworks are causing traffic jams on the A4 and A72, especially west and southwest of Chemnitz.

"In terms of roadworks, things will be particularly tight in western Saxony between Wüstenbrand and Glauchau and around the Chemnitz junction," says Florian Wagner from ADAC Saxony. "Further along the A4, east of Dresden, there are individual roadworks between Ottendorf-Okrilla and Pulsnitz as well as between Rödertal and Oberlausitz."

How drivers can prepare themselves

Autobahn GmbH recommends that drivers find out about roadworks and closures on their route in advance - for example with the help of the Autobahn app. "Start your journey well rested and make sure you have enough food and drink on board," explains Grotjahn. "Plan sufficiently long breaks and - if possible - take turns driving at short intervals."

If there are traffic jams or gridlocked traffic, a rescue lane must be kept clear. Caution is advised with detours such as those displayed by navigation apps. They often lead to congestion on the road network, says Grotjahn. "The traffic jam is then often much more extensive. A full closure and subsequent diversion is usually carried out by the police, for example for rescue work."

The ADAC also advises staying on the route in traffic jams or slow-moving traffic. "The secondary network fills up very quickly and the traffic jam shifts." The association advises good advance planning and anti-cyclical driving to avoid getting stuck in traffic jams on your vacation. "We recommend setting off as early or as late as possible in the day to avoid commuting times," explains Wagner. Commuter traffic at the destination should also be taken into account for longer distances.

What happens after Pentecost?

While the traffic situation is expected to calm down on Pentecost Sunday, experts expect a wave of return journeys on Monday. Tuesday will then see the usual truck and commuter traffic. In 2023, the Tuesday after Whitsun was even the most congested day of the year in Saxony, explains ADAC spokesperson Wagner.