The intense heatwave affecting Central Europe has already begun impacting Germany’s transport infrastructure. On Thursday evening, a section of the A2 motorway, one of the country’s main freight corridors connecting Germany with Poland, suffered major pavement failure.
The incident occurred at around 7:00 p.m. on the eastbound carriageway between the Ziesar and Wollin interchanges. Due to extreme temperatures, the concrete pavement expanded and buckled, creating a dangerous obstacle for traffic.
Dozens of Vehicles Damaged
Before police and road authorities were able to secure the area, approximately 30 vehicles drove over the damaged section of roadway.
According to local authorities, vehicles sustained damage to tires, wheels, suspension components, and bumpers. Two people suffered minor injuries and received medical treatment at the scene.
Following the incident, the affected motorway section was completely closed.
Freight Traffic Diverted Toward Poland
At the time of publication, the section of the A2 motorway between Ziesar and Wollin remains closed.
All traffic, including international freight transport, is being diverted onto nearby federal roads, resulting in significant congestion and delays.
According to the German newspaper Märkische Allgemeine, road authorities have not yet provided an estimate for when repairs will be completed. Engineers are currently assessing the extent of the structural damage before reconstruction work can begin.
Major Impact Expected on International Logistics
The A2 motorway is one of Germany’s most important transport arteries and forms part of the international route linking Berlin with the Polish border and further into Central and Eastern Europe.
The closure is expected to significantly disrupt Friday’s freight traffic toward Poland, with logistics companies warning of extended delivery times, heavy traffic congestion, and increased pressure on alternative transport routes.
Weather forecasts indicate that temperatures will continue to rise over the coming days. If the heatwave persists, experts warn that similar pavement failures could occur on other concrete motorway sections across Germany, creating additional challenges for international road freight operations.
Read also: SID: Germany Launches a Truck Parking Availability System
