Border control results in deployment of a new A12 unit.
The A12, a major road connecting Berlin and Frankfurt (Oder), continues to experience significant traffic congestion due to ongoing border controls imposed by Germany. These controls, aimed at stopping irregular migration, have been in place since October 2023 and show no signs of being lifted soon.
Germany's Federal Highway Authority has announced plans to open the hard shoulder in the direction of Poland for trucks and convert the overtaking lane to a lane in the direction of Berlin. This change is expected to take place in the fall, but it is unclear whether these measures will alleviate the traffic congestion caused by the border controls.
Poland, too, has implemented its own controls on the A12 since July, initially scheduled to last until August 5 but extended to October 4. These controls have also contributed to the delays on the A12.
Brandenburg's Minister President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) and Interior Minister René Wilke (independent) have been urging the federal government to establish a third lane on the A12 to ease the traffic congestion.
The Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Frankfurt (Oder) voices concerns about the burden of border controls on the A12, as approximately four million trucks use this route annually. Commuters also complain about long waiting times due to these border controls.
The focus of stationary border controls on the A12 is the section near Frankfurt (Oder). Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) ordered more intensive border controls in May, which are to continue beyond September.
Despite the ongoing issues on the A12 between Germany and Poland, there are no reported new traffic management changes or infrastructure upgrades specifically aimed at addressing these border control-related issues as of August 2025.
Elsewhere on the A12, there are separate construction or innovation projects. For instance, trials with graphene-enhanced asphalt and strategic planning collaborations with National Highways are underway on the English A12 in the UK, but these are unrelated to Polish border control issues.
In Latvia, there are traffic restrictions with speed limits and traffic lights causing delays, but these are routine construction-related restrictions rather than new border control measures.
In summary, the primary challenge on the A12 concerning Poland is the impact of political border controls rather than new traffic management measures to address congestion at the border itself. The ongoing border controls continue to cause significant delays and costs for freight haulers, and Poland advocates lifting these controls to restore free traffic flow, but an end to the controls is not yet planned.
- The ongoing border controls along the A12, a major transportation route between Germany and Poland, have derived concerns within the automotive industry, as approximately four million trucks use this route annually, leading to financial losses due to long waiting times.
- Amidst the traffic congestion on the A12, talks about infrastructure upgrades have been proposed, with the Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Frankfurt (Oder) urging the government to establish a third lane for improved flow, which could significantly benefit the transportation and finance industries.
