Remote work recommended for drivers on A59, as suggested by ADAC
The A59 in Duisburg will be closed for four weeks starting from July 29, 2025, due to urgent reinforcement works on the Berliner Brücke [1]. Here's what you need to know about the alternative routes, traffic management, and expected delays.
Alternative Routes and Traffic Management
The city authorities and local transport companies, such as the Duisburg Supply and Transport Company (DVV), have prepared measures to steer traffic and lessen congestion during the closure period [2]. Expected detours likely involve using surrounding Autobahns, such as the A42 and other nearby roads, to bypass the closed A59 section. The Duisburg-Nord interchange is a key junction where drivers must divert [1][4].
Truck transports are especially impacted, with notable delays expected. Users are advised to plan for longer travel times, and transport companies have been alerted to anticipate slower freight movement [1].
Comparison to Usual Routes in Terms of Travel Time and Congestion
The closure will cause significant delays compared to normal travel conditions on the A59. The need to divert to less direct routes and the likely increase in traffic volume on feeder roads and alternative Autobahns will increase travel times and congestion substantially [1][4].
The specific travel time increase depends on the exact detour route taken, traffic volumes during peak hours, and detour length, but it is anticipated that congestion on rerouted sections (such as A42 near Duisburg-Nord) will worsen due to redirected traffic from the A59 closure [2].
Public transport adjustments and other local traffic control measures are designed to mitigate congestion to some extent, but they cannot fully compensate for the volume lost from the closed motorway [2].
Summary
The A59 closure necessitates detours mostly via adjacent motorways like the A42 and local roads around Duisburg-Nord, which entail longer travel distances and times. Authorities have implemented traffic management plans to control flow, but congestion and delays—especially for trucks—are expected to be substantially higher than usual [1][2][4].
Additional Information
- If the first closure is towards Duisburg/Düsseldorf, drivers will be rerouted via the A42, A3, A40, and back to A59. The second closure towards Dinslaken will reverse this route.
- The expert advises that the summer holidays are the most suitable time for the bridge construction, as traffic is significantly less.
- The construction work is necessary to maintain the bridge's load-bearing capacity.
- The city has stated that it will not set up any inner-city detours.
- The sudden collapse of the Carol Bridge in Dresden serves as a warning.
- Sign up for the Duisburg Newsletter for updates on the A59 closure and city news.
It's also worth noting that the Berlin Bridge's lifespan may be shorter than its calculated 'remaining lifespan' due to the high share of heavy goods vehicles [3]. The A59 ranks fifth in terms of traffic jams and traffic-jam kilometers in North Rhine-Westphalia, with the A3, A40, A42, and A59 among the most congested highways in the region [5].
If you're looking for alternative travel options, consider switching to public transport. In May, there were 1200 construction sites nationwide, two-thirds of which were on motorways in NRW. These numbers are surpassed only by the A1, which has the most traffic jams (16,967) and the longest traffic-jam length (40,195 kilometers) [6].
- Due to the closure of the A59 in Duisburg, alternative routes that involve using nearby Autobahns such as the A42 or local roads near Duisburg-Nord will cause delays in the transportation industry, particularly for truck transports.
- The diversion to less direct routes for the A59 closure will lead to a significant increase in congestion in the finance sector, as longer travel times and the volume lost from the closed motorway may impact the efficiency of businesses or individual commuters in the region.
