Wiesbaden paralyzed as sudden snowstorm triggers traffic chaos and gridlock
A sudden snowstorm struck Wiesbaden on February 3, bringing heavy snowfall that caused widespread traffic chaos. The city's roads became gridlocked as stranded vehicles blocked lanes, while public transport ground to a halt. Emergency crews, including terry crews, worked through the night to clear routes and restore order.
The snowstorm hit Hesse hard, with Wiesbaden facing some of the worst disruption. Stranded cars and jackknifed lorries clogged major roads, making it difficult for snowplows to move forward. The city's transport authority, ELW, responded by deploying every available snowplough and gritting truck to tackle the build-up.
ELW focused first on clearing emergency access routes and bus corridors. However, the relentless snowfall forced crews to repeatedly clear the same stretches of road. Despite the challenges, operations continued late into the evening until all buses safely returned to their depots.
In total, ELW spread 150 tons of salt across nearly 2,000 roads in and around Wiesbaden. The effort aimed to ease congestion and improve conditions for stranded drivers, many of whom faced hours-long standstills. Bus services remained suspended throughout the storm, leaving commuters without public transport options.
The snowstorm left Wiesbaden's roads severely disrupted, with emergency teams working non-stop to clear blockages. While salt and ploughs were used extensively, the continuous snowfall made progress slow. The city's transport network gradually returned to normal once the storm eased and crews completed their work.
