Construction work ongoing on the A24 highway, heading towards Hamburg, with extensive use of concrete.
In the northeastern region of Germany, commuters are facing a challenging period due to urgent repairs on a ten-kilometer stretch of the A24 road towards Hamburg. The repairs, which are expected to last six weeks, are a result of the Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR) causing the concrete to disintegrate, a condition known as 'concrete cancer'.
Ronald Normann, the director of the Nordost branch of the Bundesautobahn-Gesellschaft (Federal Autobahn Company), is overseeing the A24 road repairs. He explained that this is a severe consequence of the ASR, causing the road surface to deteriorate rapidly.
The A24 road will be fully closed during the repairs, and traffic heading towards Hamburg will be rerouted onto one lane of the Berlin-Hamburg roadway. This closure adds to the frustration of commuters who are already dealing with an eight-month closure of the Berlin-Hamburg railway line for renovation, which is scheduled to continue until the end of April 2026.
Many commuters have switched to cars because the replacement buses for the railway line take much longer. The condition of the A24 road surface has been deteriorating rapidly, posing a risk to traffic safety. To mitigate this, the existing concrete roadway will be covered with an asphalt top layer during the repairs.
The renovation of the Berlin-Hamburg railway line and the A24 road repairs are being conducted by the Federal Highway Authority. Ronald Normann emphasised the importance of these repairs, stating, "The A24 is a crucial connection for these commuters, and even replacement buses use the highway."
Despite the inconvenience, Normann remains optimistic, stating that if everything goes according to plan, the repairs could be completed by November 8. In the meantime, commuters are advised to plan their journeys accordingly and allow extra time for travel.
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