A5 motorway shuts down after extreme heat buckles road surface near Heidelberg
A stretch of the A5 motorway has been shut down after part of the road buckled in extreme heat. The closure affects southbound traffic between Zwingenberg and Bensheim, near Heidelberg. Authorities have warned drivers to avoid the area and use alternative routes. The incident happened on Wednesday, July 2, at around 4:40 p.m. A 20-centimetre upward bulge formed in the pavement, damaging at least one passing vehicle. Police quickly issued a radio alert to warn motorists of the danger.
An expansion joint on a nearby bridge runs through the affected section, which may have contributed to the distortion. Officials believe the extreme summer temperatures caused the road surface to warp. Drivers heading south are now being directed onto the A67 via the Darmstadt interchange. This isn't the first disruption on this part of the A5. Earlier this year, on March 3, a fatal crash involving a SEAT driver closed the northbound lanes between Bensheim and Zwingenberg until 5:10 p.m. That accident caused €60,000 in damage.
The A5 remains closed for repairs, with no immediate reopening date given. Southbound traffic must continue using the A67 detour until further notice. Engineers are assessing the damage to determine how long the closure will last.
