A2 sections closed after heat damage, with long delays expected

Heat damage has closed sections of the A2 in central Germany, causing long delays for drivers between Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg and forcing traffic onto diversion routes.

Closures and repairs

The first closure was reported near Burg in Saxony-Anhalt on Thursday, June 26, after heat damage was found on the carriageway in the direction of Hanover. The Autobahn GmbH began repairs by removing damaged concrete slabs and replacing them with asphalt.

Later that evening, a second damaged section was found between Ziesar and Wollin in Brandenburg, this time on the route toward Berlin. That stretch was reported to affect all lanes and was fully closed.

The Autobahn GmbH said the damage at Ziesar-Wollin was larger than at Burg and extended across the full width of the carriageway.

Traffic impact

Officials warned that the closures were causing major congestion and that travel times shown by online traffic apps were understating the real queues.

Detours were set up for both sites. At Ziesar-Wollin, traffic was routed off at Ziesar and back on at Wollin. The Autobahn GmbH also recommended a wider diversion via the A14 and A9 to reduce pressure on local roads.

Authorities said drivers using the route should carry water, food and regularly needed medication because delays could be long.

Damage still evolving

By Saturday, June 27, police said the damaged area near Ziesar was still growing and that additional interchanges were being closed. They also said some stretches were so badly affected that safe driving was not possible in places.

The situation was especially serious for local traffic and emergency routes, as queueing and diversions put extra pressure on nearby roads in both states.

What happens next

Reopening times remain uncertain. WELT reported different estimates over the last two days for when the Burg section and the Ziesar-Wollin stretch might reopen, but officials have continued to warn that the situation can change quickly.

The A2 is a major east-west route linking Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt and onward traffic toward Berlin and Hanover, and the closures are expected to keep disrupting regional traffic until repair work is complete.