Highways Leading to the Begins of the Ascension Weekend Festival - Bustling avenues mark the commencement of the Ascension holiday weekend.
This long weekend, Germany sees an influx of traffic, with Ascension Day contributing to one of the busiest travel periods of the year, according to the ADAC traffic club. The highways in North Rhine-Westphalia, particularly in regions with multiple construction sites, are at high risk of traffic jams, especially on Wednesday afternoon.
While North Rhine-Westphalia does not have an official school holiday on Friday, many students have a movable holiday, contributing to increased travel. In other federal states, the Ascension Day bridge day is a public holiday, further augmenting the number of families embarking on short vacations.
ADAC North Rhine's traffic and environment department head, Roman Suthold, anticipates that the highways around Cologne and the Ruhr area will be severely affected by the surge in traffic and numerous construction sites, predicting complete congestion. Wednesday between 13:00 and 19:00 is expected to experience the strongest traffic, with commuters and vacationers on the roads simultaneously. Those leaving in the evening or on Thursday can likely expect a smoother and more relaxed journey.
Suthold expects fewer traffic jams on Sunday afternoon compared to the initial days of the long weekend due to the absence of commuters. Nevertheless, return traffic will still cause congestion.
Recent challenges include a Google Maps glitch that falsely indicated road closures across Germany, contributing to traffic disruptions. Although this issue was not limited to North Rhine-Westphalia, it underscores the impact of technical errors or misinformation on traffic flow.
Travelers are advised to prepare for significant congestion in Cologne and North Rhine-Westphalia during the Ascension weekend, especially due to construction sites and any potential technical issues affecting navigation systems. It is recommended to plan ahead, check real-time traffic updates and construction zones, rely on multiple sources for traffic information, and avoid traveling during peak hours when possible.
Vocational training centers in North Rhine-Westphalia may see a decline in student attendance this week due to the Ascension Day bridge days, as many students decide to take advantage of the long weekend for traveling or leisure activities, reflecting changes in lifestyle. During this period, the community policy regarding traffic flow and navigation will be of great importance, as travelers navigate through construction zones on the highways, especially in Cologne and the Ruhr area.
