Anticipates Heavy Traffic Congestion During Ascension Day Weekend, According to ADAC - Anticipated Road Congestion Over Ascension Holiday Weekend, According to ADAC
Heightened Traffic Expected During Ascension Day Weekend in North Rhine-Westphalia
Prepare for increased congestions on the roads as the Ascension Day weekend approaches, with Wednesday, May 29, 2025, forecasted to be particularly challenging. Last year, the day prior to Ascension Day ranked among the ten most congested days of the year, according to ADAC.
Ascension Day is a public holiday in North Rhine-Westphalia, leading to an influx of private and commercial vehicles as people make use of the extended break for vacation trips. Such increased traffic volume will likely cause deliberate delays on major highways and roads.
The presence of approximately 700 construction sites in North Rhine-Westphalia may also result in prolonged waiting times. According to Roman Suthold, head of the Traffic and Environment department at ADAC North Rhine, congestion areas with reduced lanes pose significant risks during this period. Cologne and the Ruhr region will likely face intense traffic and an overwhelming number of construction sites, he predicts.
ADAC anticipates an excess of traffic between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, as both commuters and vacation travelers are likely to be on the road concurrently. Delays are expected to ease for evening departures or travels on Thursday.
By Sunday afternoon, roads will become busier once more due to the return traffic, although congestion levels should be lower compared to the beginning of the long weekend, according to Suthold.
Avoiding traffic jams via country roads is generally not a beneficial strategy, according to ADAC, as these detour routes often become congested as well. It only makes sense to exit the motorway if the congestion surpasses ten kilometers in length or if the road is closed completely.
In addition to increased traffic and construction sites, the North Rhine-Westphalia police will strengthen their presence over the Ascension Day weekend to maintain order and manage public events, potentially leading to minor traffic disruptions in certain areas. Also, ongoing industrial construction projects may contribute to traffic-related delays in specific locations.
[1] Due to a truck driving ban on public holidays in Germany that affects transport and freight movement, freight traffic may shift to surrounding days, leading to potential congestions prior to or immediately after the holiday.
[2] The NRW police increase their presence during the Ascension Day celebrations in areas like the Wittekindskreis district to manage public events and maintain order.
[5] North Rhine-Westphalia is home to an array of industrial projects, with ongoing and upcoming developments like the VAHLE Campus in Kamen. Construction activities at such sites may contribute to traffic bottlenecks in certain areas during holiday periods like the Ascension Day weekend.
The community policy should disseminate travel advisories to warn residents of the heightened traffic and potential delays during the Ascension Day weekend, encouraging alternative means of transportation such as public transit to reduce congestion.
The employment policy may need to account for the extended travel time during this period, providing flexible working hours or remote work options on Ascension Day and the days surrounding it to accommodate employees' travel lifestyle.
