Extreme heat has caused growing damage to motorways across Germany, forcing additional closures, speed restrictions and lengthy traffic delays as temperatures continued to soar across the country.
The most severe disruption has hit the A2, one of Germany's main east-west transport corridors linking Berlin with western Germany. The affected section near the town of Ziesar in the eastern state of Brandenburg is steadily expanding, according to police.
"The A2 is continuing to break apart," a police spokesman said on Saturday. "As a result, one interchange after another has to be closed."
Traffic is being diverted onto local roads, but authorities warned that some sections in the Ziesar area have deteriorated so severely that vehicles can no longer travel safely across the surface.
The closures have led to major traffic jams on the motorway and surrounding roads. Heat damage to the roadway was first identified on Thursday near Burg in the direction of Hanover and between Ziesar and Wollin on the route towards Berlin. Another damaged section was later discovered near Irxleben in Saxony-Anhalt.
According to the ADAC motorists' association, affected sections of the A2 are expected to remain closed until at least Sunday afternoon.
Major congestion has also developed on diversion routes, police said, urging motorists to avoid the A2 over a wide area if possible.
"Current traffic information on Google Maps is not accurate. Waiting times are significantly longer than indicated," a police spokeswoman said.
Heat-related damage has also affected other parts of Germany.
On the A93 in Bavaria, a lane between Weiden-Süd and Luhe-Wildenau towards Regensburg is expected to remain closed into next week, while repairs are under way on the A9 near Ingolstadt in both directions.
Further restrictions are in place on the A10 ring road around Berlin and on the A7 south of Hamburg, where lanes have been closed because of heat damage.
Drivers in the west are also facing lower speed limits on the A48 in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate and on the A3 in the state of Hesse.
According to Autobahn GmbH, the operator of Germany's federal motorways, the damage occurs when concrete expands in extreme heat, creating so-called "blow-ups." Older road surfaces that have been heavily used or repeatedly repaired are particularly vulnerable.
Drivers who nevertheless choose to travel were advised to prepare for long delays by carrying sufficient water, food and any medication they require regularly.
