Bundesautobahn 1
- Roads in Germany
- Motorways (Autobahnen)
- Federal Highways (Bundesstraßen)
Bundesautobahn 1 (translates from German as Federal Motorway 1, short form Autobahn 1, abbreviated as BAB 1 or A 1) is an autobahn in Germany. It runs from Heiligenhafen to Saarbrücken, a distance of 730 km (450 mi), but is incomplete between Cologne and Trier. B 207 continues north from Heiligenhafen to Puttgarden, at the end of the island of Fehmarn, with a ferry to Rødby, Denmark.
The part north of Hamburg is part of the Vogelfluglinie (Flying bird line) and may be connected via a bridge to Denmark and Copenhagen (see below). The term Hansalinie (Hansa line) refers to the part from Lübeck (north of Hamburg, thus overlapping the Vogelfluglinie) south to the Ruhr Area (near Dortmund). The Autobahn has either two or three lanes each way. Congestion is possible around Hamburg, during holiday periods between Hamburg and Münster, between Dortmund and Cologne because of roadworks and especially around Cologne. During the rush hour the Cologne Beltway (exits 98 - 104) is very busy (AADT 100,000-120,000). It is three lanes each way, but due to roadworks only two lanes each way are open around exits 103 and 104 resulting in severe congestion. The speed limit on the Cologne Beltway is mostly 100 km/h. Northbound between exits 103 and 102 as well as between 101 and 100 the speed limit has recently been raised to 120 km/h. Within the roadworks (exits 103 to 104) the maximum speed allowed is 60 km/h.
South of the Cologne Beltway the A1 has two lanes each way between exits 104 and 107. There is a speed limit of 120 km/h northbound between exits 105 and 104, otherwise this section has no speed limit. Between exit 107 and 109 the A1 and A61 run concurrently. The motorway has three lanes each way and a variable speed limit here.
Read more about Bundesautobahn 1: History