Federal motorway 46

	Template: Infobox high-ranking street / Maintenance / DE-A
	Bundesautobahn 46 in Germany
	map
	Basic data
Operator:	Federal Republic of Germany
Start of the street:	Heinsberg ; ( 51 ° 1 ′ N , 6 ° 7 ′ E )
End of street:	Bestwig ; ( 51 ° 21 ′ N , 8 ° 22 ′ E )
Overall length:	156.5 km
of which in operation:	149.2 km
of which in planning:	7.3 km
State :	North Rhine-Westphalia;
Development condition:	2 × 2 and 2 × 3 lanes
	State of North Rhine-Westphalia
	District of Heinsberg
	Under construction; In planning; Traffic control system ;

The Bundesautobahn 46 (abbreviation: BAB 46 ) - short form: Autobahn 46 (abbreviation: A 46 ) - is a motorway in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and leads from the Dutch border near Heinsberg in three sections to Olsberg in the Sauerland .

course

Heinsberg – Wuppertal

At the Heinsberg junction, Bundesstraße 56 , which begins at the German-Dutch border crossing Selfkant -Millen, changes to BAB 46, which - unlike the Bundesstraße - has separate lanes. The motorway leads through the flat landscape of the western Lower Rhine past the towns of Hückelhoven and Erkelenz . At the Mönchengladbach-Wanlo triangle , the northern branch of the A 61 (entire route Venlo - Hockenheim ), interrupted by the Garzweiler II open-cast lignite mine , branches off . As far as the following Holz junction, the motorway runs directly along this open-cast mine and has been expanded to six lanes, since it will serve as a replacement for the A 61 from summer 2018 together with a new six-lane section of the A 44 . At the next junction ( Jüchen ) there is a connection to the BAB 540 , which is only a few kilometers long and bypasses the city of Grevenbroich to the west and south. As far as Neuss, the route is characterized by long straights and has a rest area in both directions. At the Neuss-West junction , the carriageway of the BAB 46 converges with that of the BAB 57 , while a left-hand exit onto Jülich Landstrasse leads to Neuss city center.

As far as the Neuss-Süd triangle , the BAB 46 and the BAB 57 run on a shared, six-lane carriageway. The double numbering was set up after the former Neuss-West junction was expanded into a motorway junction and it was decided not to implement the originally planned, southern route from Neuss-Holzheim to Neuss-Süd.

From the Neuss-Süd triangle, the BAB 46 again has its own six-lane route. It crosses the Rhine on the Fleher Bridge and thus reaches the city of Düsseldorf . In the south of the North Rhine-Westphalian capital leads through two tunnels beneath the campus of the University and in the district of Wersten . The middle section of the BAB 59 to Leverkusen begins at the Düsseldorf-Süd triangle and a few kilometers further on the BAB 3 crosses at the Hilden junction . After the cross, the road climbs from the Lower Rhine Bay into the Bergisches Land , passes Haan and reaches the urban area of Wuppertal . At the Sonnborner Kreuz , a very complex inner-city road junction with several connections to the downstream road network, the BAB 535 branches off to Velbert . Until the end of the first section at the Wuppertal-Nord junction, the Wuppertal urban area is crossed and connected lengthways with several junction points, and there is also a rest area in both directions. Due to the dense settlement, the Düsseldorf carriageway runs through two noise protection enclosures.

Motorway near Hückelhoven
Between Jüchen and Neuss
The Fleher Bridge leads over the Rhine
University tunnel in Düsseldorf
In front of the Sonnborn Cross

Hagen-Hemer

The second section begins at the Heinitzstrasse / Eduard-Müller-Strasse intersection in Hagen , but is only dedicated as a federal motorway from the Hagen intersection , which crosses the BAB 45 ( Dortmund - Seligenstadt ). This route crosses the Lenne and leads first through the Elsey district of Hagen , then through Iserlohn, which adjoins it to the east . In the east of the Iserlohn city area, it ends shortly before Hemer at the B 7 .

Route in Iserlohn
Bridge over the Seilersee

Arnsberg-Bestwig

At the Neheim junction , the carriageway of the BAB 445 leading from Werl into the Hochsauerland merges seamlessly with the BAB 46. It leads along the eastern slope of the Ruhr valley , past Arnsberg and crosses the river twice. Tunnels were built in Arnsberg-Uentrop and between Freienohl and Wennemen , and there are numerous valley bridges on the entire section of the route due to the mountainous surroundings. The motorway runs past Meschede and ends at the Olsberg junction .

Uentrop tunnel
Course east of Arnsberg
Olpe tunnel

history

The route, which was designated as federal motorway 46 with effect from January 1, 1975, comprised several sections with different levels of planning and implementation.

Section state border D / NL north of Brunssum - Hückelhoven - Erkelenz - Holz

Until 1972, the section was planned as a motorway-like design under the internal name "Bundesstrasse 1109" up to the state border near Gangelt. In 1973 it was planned to be built as a federal motorway under the internal name "Autobahn 205" for the section from the connection to the B 221 south of Heinsberg to the Holz intersection . The part of Heinsberg to the west - east of Gangelt (connection to the B 56) should only be implemented as a two-lane B 1109, and without a continuation towards the state border. The traffic releases were made:

Heinsberg (B 221) - AS Hückelhoven: 1996 (10.6 km)
AS Hückelhoven - then AK Wanlo : 1979 (15.0 km)
then AK Wanlo - Jüchen (AK Holz): 1977 (5.9 km)

According to the second law of 25 August 1980 amending the law on the expansion of federal highways from 1971 to 1985 (Federal Law Gazette 1980, Part I, p. 1614), the construction of the motorway was only possible up to the planned intersection with the A 56 Intended at Heinsberg and thus no longer until the connection to the B 221. The Gangelt - AK south of Heinsberg remained in the requirement plan as federal road 1109 and was assigned to urgency level I. The third law of April 21, 1986 amending the law on the expansion of federal highways (Federal Law Gazette 1986, Part I, p. 557) brought about significant changes: The Hückelhoven - Heinsberg section (B 221) was only set as one-lane in urgent need , contain the 2nd carriageway only as further planning. The route Heinsberg - Gangelt was only planned as B 1109 in the further planning. In the Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan 2003, the section from the federal border D / NL near Sittard to Heinsberg is set for implementation as a two-lane federal highway 56 . The third and last section was opened to traffic on May 2, 2017.

State border D / NL - state road 410 near Selfkant : 2008 (6 km)
State road 410 near Selfkant - Gangelt -Vinteln: 2011 (4.2 km)
Gangelt -Vinteln to AS Heinsberg: 2017 (8.8 km)

Section wood - Jüchen - Grevenbroich - Neuss -Holzheim

As early as the mid-1960s, a section of today's A 46 (AK Holz - AS Grevenbroich) was completed in the course of a four-lane bypass route of the B 1 between Jackerath and Grevenbroich-Hemmerden. In 1974 the parts of the section under traffic were upgraded to the federal motorway. They were referred to internally as "Autobahn 201". On January 1st, 1975 the following sections were released:

AK Holz - AD Juchen: 4 km
AD Juchen - AS Grevenbroich: 2 km
AS Grevenbroich - Hemmerden: 2 km
Hemmerden - AS Neuss-West: 1975 (10.0 km)

Section Neuss-Holzheim - Neuss-Süd

The route was planned in 1972 under the internal name "Autobahn 14z". In the road construction report of 1975, the section is included in addition to the new name with its previous name as "Autobahn 142". Both in the requirements plan of the Second Act of August 25, 1980 amending the Act on the Expansion of Federal Highways from 1971 to 1985 (Federal Law Gazette 1980, Part I, p. 1614), as well as the Third Act of April 21, 1986 on Amendment of the law on the expansion of federal highways (Federal Law Gazette 1986, Part I, p. 557), the route was included in stage II or in further planning. The section that was added to the new A 46 from January 1, 1975 onwards was not implemented. The route is no longer included in the 2003 Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan. Later the B 1 between Neuss-Holzheim and the Autobahn 57 was upgraded to the A 46. The Neuss-West junction located here was expanded to the Neuss-West motorway junction by 2007 . Immediately to the east of the junction begins a joint route between the A 46 and the A 57 to the Neuss-Süd triangle .

Section Neuss-Süd - Düsseldorf -Wersten

According to the planning status of 1972, the under the internal name "Autobahn 14z" from today's AD Neuss-Süd should be led to the Südring ( B 326 ) in Düsseldorf-Bilk and flow there. A connection to the B 326 in the Düsseldorf-Wersten area was not initially considered. This changed, however, when the route from Neuss via Düsseldorf to Wuppertal was determined as part of the new A 46. This is why such a connection can be found in the 1976 network plan. However, all sections of this section were only completed after January 1, 1975, namely:

AK Neuss-Süd - AS Neuss-Uedesheim: 1983 (1.6 km)
AS Neuss-Uedesheim - AS Düsseldorf-Bilk: 1979 (3.5 km)
AS Düsseldorf-Bilk - AS Düsseldorf-Wersten: 1983 (1.4 km)
Area AS Düsseldorf-Wersten: 1986 (2.1 km)

Section Düsseldorf-Wersten - Hilden - Wuppertal - Sonnborn - Wuppertal-North

The federal highway 326, initially planned between Düsseldorf and Wuppertal-Vohwinkel to relieve Hilden and Haan , was completed on June 23, 1956. This was followed by the planning and construction of the B 326 route between Wuppertal-Vohwinkel and Wuppertal-Nord. In 1972, with the completion of a section, the section was upgraded to the federal motorway, which was given the internal designation "Autobahn 201". In 1974 work on the Sonnborn Cross was completed. On January 1, 1975, almost the entire section was opened to traffic. These included the following routes:

Düsseldorf-Wersten - AK Düsseldorf-Süd, but still dedicated as B 326
AK Düsseldorf-Süd - west AK Sonnborn: upgrade of 17.6 km of the B 326 to the motorway in 1972
AK Sonnborn: 1974 (2 km)
East AK Sonnborn - AS Wuppertal-Katernberg: 1972 (2.8 km)
AS Wuppertal-Katernberg - AK Wuppertal-Nord: upgrading of 11.9 km of the B 326 to the motorway in 1972

Section Wuppertal-North - Gevelsberg - Hagen

Until 1974 the section was planned as a four-lane B 7 . The distance should be parallel to the A 1 extend. With effect from January 1, 1975, the section became part of the A 46 route. The second law of August 25, 1980 amending the law on the expansion of federal trunk roads from 1971 to 1985 (Federal Law Gazette 1980, Part I, p. 1614) brought the end of this plan. However, the construction of a two-lane federal road in urgency level I was still planned between AK Wuppertal-Nord and Gevelsberg. Between Gevelsberg and west of Haspe , the construction of a four-lane federal road in level I was included. In addition, a four-lane connection between the AK Hagen and the A1 near the AS Hagen-West was to be built as a northern bypass of the city. This connection was to be continued along the B 226 and the Ruhr in four lanes to the A 43 near Witten-Heven. The requirements plan does not indicate which dedication this project should receive. The third law of April 21, 1986 amending the law on the expansion of federal highways (Federal Law Gazette 1986, Part I, p. 557) only provided for a new two-lane federal road between AK Wuppertal-Nord and the area west of Haspe. All other plans were rejected. In the end, none of the aforementioned projects were implemented. The Wuppertal - Hagen route is not included in the 2003 Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan.

Section Hagen - Iserlohn - Neheim-Hüsten - Arnsberg - Meschede - Brilon

The later motorway planning in this section consisted of originally separate projects, in particular the "Nordtangente Hohenlimburg - Letmathe - Iserlohn", the Neheim-Hüsten bypass, the Bruchhausen bypass and the Brilon bypass. As early as 1972, however, there was a consistent overall plan between Hagen and Brilon as a new motorway-like construction of the B 7 and B 7n. With the completion of the section AS Iserlohn-Letmathe - AS Iserlohn-Zentrum in 1974, the route Hagen - Iserlohn was upgraded to a motorway. On January 1, 1975 the following sections were completed:

AK Hagen - AS Iserlohn-Letmathe: December 12, 1968 (approx. 6.5 km)
AS Iserlohn-Letmathe - AS Iserlohn-Zentrum: 1974 (7.2 km)

Residents of the Upper Ruhr Valley opposed the continuation of the section, which was based less on a real or expected need than on abstract goals of the so-called Leber Plan , nevertheless, because of the funding from federal funds, advocated by local politicians and by the authorities with rigorous funds and partially procedural errors were enforced. While in the requirement plan of the second law of August 25, 1980 amending the law on the expansion of federal highways from 1971 to 1985 (Federal Law Gazette 1980, Part I, p. 1614), all sections between Hagen and Brilon (B 480) of the Urgency level I, this changed with the Third Act of April 21, 1986 amending the Act on the Extension of Federal Highways (Federal Law Gazette 1986, Part I, p. 557). Accordingly, the Hemer - Menden line was only one lane in urgent need, the second lane and the Menden - Arnsberg section (A 445) were only included as additional planning. The Arnsberg - Bestwig-Nuttlar line was set to four lanes in urgent need. Between Bestwig-Nuttlar and east of Brilon (B 7), only a two-lane federal road was planned, but as an urgent requirement. The following sections were opened to traffic:

AS Iserlohn-Zentrum - AS Hemer : May 4, 1976 (3.9 km)
AS Arnsberg- Neheim - AS Arnsberg- Hüsten : 1987 (2.7 km)
AS Arnsberg-Hüsten - AS Arnsberg-Ost: 1991 (7.5 km)
AS Arnsberg-Ost - AS Meschede-Freienohl: 2003 (4.2 km)
AS Meschede-Freienohl - AS Meschede-Wennemen: 1999 (4.4 km)
AS Meschede-Wennemen - AS Meschede: 1988 (7.4 km)
AS Meschede - AS Bestwig : 1985 (5.5 km)

The following routes are included in the urgent needs of the 2003 Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan:

AS Hemer - Menden (7.3 km)
Menden - Arnsberg-Neheim (11.4 km)
AS Bestwig - AS Bestwig / Nuttlar (5.4 km)
AS Bestwig / Nuttlar - Brilon (up to the B 480a ) as a two-lane B 7 (11.7 km)

Section Brilon - Marsberg - Scherfede - Willebadessen room

A 46 planning; blue: today's motorway expansion, orange: planned in 1976

Until 1974 there were no plans for a motorway or motorway-like connection between Brilon and Scherfede. The network map of the federal motorways and federal roads from January 1, 1976 by the Federal Minister of Transport still did not contain any planning between Brilon and Scherfede, but a single-lane plan in the Marsberg area parallel to the B 7. Between the Scherfede area and the Willebadessen area was in the network map a tour of the A 46 on the route of the A 5 Bremen - Gießen, which is also being planned. The first law of August 5, 1976 amending the law on the expansion of federal trunk roads from 1971 to 1985 (Federal Law Gazette 1976, Part I, p. 2093) does not contain this route. Also in the second law of 25 August 1980 amending the law on the expansion of federal highways from 1971 to 1985 (Federal Law Gazette 1980, Part I, p. 1614), in the third law of 21 April 1986 amending the law on the expansion of the federal trunk roads (Federal Law Gazette 1986, Part I, p. 557) and the 2003 federal traffic route plan does not include the route.

Section Willebadessen - Beverungen - Uslar - Nörten-Hardenberg - Herzberg - former inner-German border at Mackenrode

Until December 31, 1974, this section was planned under the internal designation "Autobahn 105". From January 1, 1975, it was included in the A 46 route. However, it did not come to fruition. With the second law of 25 August 1980 amending the law on the expansion of federal highways from 1971 to 1985 (Federal Law Gazette 1980, Part I, p. 1614), the route was canceled without replacement. This was also the case with the Third Act of April 21, 1986 amending the Act on the Extension of Federal Highways (Federal Law Gazette 1986, Part I, p. 557). The route is also not included in the 2003 Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan. However, today's federal motorway 38 is an alternative to the planning at the time with its route between Göttingen and Nordhausen .

Current status and further expansion

Section state border D / NL at Sittard - AS Heinsberg

The section originally planned as part of the A 46 between the state border at Sittard with a connection to the Dutch N 297 and the Heinsberg junction (A 46 / B 221 ) is only planned for construction as a two-lane B 56 in the 2003 federal traffic route plan.

A first section from the state border to state road 410 (former Dutch thoroughfare) was opened to traffic at the end of 2008. Another section followed to Gangelt -Vinteln with a connection to Kreisstraße 13, which was handed over on July 22, 2011. The third and last section between Gangelt-Vinteln and AS Heinsberg was tackled in December 2011 and opened to traffic on May 2, 2017.

The entire route will be built with alternating 2 + 1 traffic routing.

Section AS Heinsberg - AK Wuppertal-Nord

The already completed section runs from AS Heinsberg via Mönchengladbach , Neuss, Düsseldorf to AK Wuppertal-Nord.

The original plan to lead the A 46 from AS Neuss-Holzheim (A 46 / B 230 ) south around the Neuss districts of Holzheim, Weckhoven and Norf to the Neuss-Süd motorway junction was abandoned. Instead, the A 57 was expanded between the AS Neuss-West and the AK Neuss-Süd , the AS Neuss-West was converted into a motorway triangle and the section between the AS Neuss-Holzheim and the AD Neuss-West was expanded. The section between AD Neuss-West and AD Neuss-Süd was identified with the numbers A 46/57.

The A 61 has been closed since September 2018 due to the ongoing Garzweiler II opencast mine . Since the A 46 has since had to absorb the diverted traffic from the Wanlo triangle via the Holz cross to the Jackerath triangle, it was widened from two to three lanes in each direction between Wanlo and Holz.

Section AK Wuppertal-Nord - AK Hagen

The originally planned closing of the gap between Wuppertal-Nord and Hagen, which provided for a route along the Ennepe valley between Schwelm and Hagen and was not planned at any point more than three kilometers south of the parallel A 1 , is currently not being pursued any further.

Section AK Hagen - Arnsberg-Neheim

The A 46 between AK Hagen and AS Hemer has been completed.

For the section between AS Hemer (B 7) to Menden (B 515), the preliminary drafts are available for 7.3 kilometers. The following stretch from Menden (B 515) to Arnsberg-Neheim (A 445) with 12.1 kilometers is in the preliminary planning.

The further construction of the A 46 is controversial. The opponents include in particular the Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD) and the Association for the Environment and Nature Conservation Germany (BUND). In addition, a “group initiative against Autobahn 46” has formed. The opponents of closing the gap point to the interventions in nature and the landscape that are necessary for the construction of the motorway, to the decreasing volume of traffic in the region and the resulting change in the cost-benefit ratio.

In contrast, the regional economy is calling for the gap to be closed and has founded a “Pro A 46 entrepreneurial initiative”. The proponents of further construction refer to the high load on the existing traffic routes, the traffic-closing effect of the project and the elimination of urban disadvantages caused by the construction of the motorway.

The state government of North Rhine-Westphalia published a priority list for federal highways on October 25, 2011. It says: “The existing line definition is divided. The planning continues on the Hemer to Menden part of the line. A network investigation takes place parallel to the planning, especially in order to find the optimal point for integration into the network at Menden. [...] The line for Menden to Arnsberg / Neheim is canceled. The planning is put on hold. In the event that planning has to be resumed in the future, an examination of the zero variant with an examination of alternative network solutions with the participation of the MKULNV must be carried out beforehand. "

The news sparked criticism from both supporters and opponents of the gap closure.

In November 2011, according to an online report by the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, three mayors, two district administrators and a vice-chief of the regional council agreed on a route variant for the continuation of the A 46. According to this, the route from Menden-Lendringsen should pass Wimbern, Cross under the Arnsberg-Echthausen airfield in a tunnel and then turn south and join the A 445 at the “ Haus Füchten ” rest area .

At the beginning of July 2013, the Westfälische Rundschau announced that the North Rhine-Westphalian Transport Minister , Michael Groschek , was planning a round table to close the gap on the A 46 between Hemer and Neheim. The Ministry of Transport had therefore invited “everyone involved” to Düsseldorf on September 16, 2013. After four decades of dispute over the construction of the motorway, Groschek wanted to "finally find a sustainable solution" for the transport project. He himself advocates closing the gap between Hemer and Neheim quickly. However, he has "no priorities" for the future route. In February 2014 the Minister then proposed three solutions to the Federal Minister of Transport.

In March 2013, the Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) included the planned closure of the gap in its list of the “most environmentally harmful and technically pointless road construction projects in Germany”.

Section Arnsberg-Neheim - AS Bestwig / Nuttlar

Nuttlar Viaduct, as of June 2013

The A 46 between Arnsberg-Neheim and the AS Bestwig / Nuttlar has already been completed. The symbolic groundbreaking ceremony at the beginning of the work on the extension to Nuttlar took place on September 4, 2009. The new 5.6-kilometer section of the motorway and the 2.7-kilometer feeder route cost 137 million euros and a construction period of seven years estimated. A total of 13 bridges will be built. Over 2.5 kilometers of the new motorway run on bridge structures. The Nuttlar viaduct has a span of 656 meters and a height above the valley of 115 meters.

The opening of the new motorway section from AS Bestwig to AS Olsberg took place on November 18, 2019.

The state of North Rhine-Westphalia expects the extension of the A 46 to provide a high-performance connection for the economic areas of the eastern Ruhr area and the upper Ruhr valley , better accessibility to the recreational areas of the Sauerland and significant relief for the Bestwig through-traffic. For 2020, traffic forecasts assume 22,000 vehicles / 24 hours on the A 46 and 16,000 vehicles / 24 hours on the B 480n. Compensation and replacement measures are planned on 80 hectares for the land consumption of around 51 hectares. Noise barriers will be built on a total of over 1,500 meters along the new route.

Extension of the A 46 east of the Bestwig / Nuttlar junction

The construction of the two-lane B 7n to Brilon is to follow the Bestwig / Nuttlar AS. This connection also received the classification "planning with priority" on the priority list for planning NRW for federal requirement plan measures of October 25, 2011.

With the 6.8-kilometer-long Bad Wünnenberg bypass and the 7.4-kilometer-long Brilon / Alme bypass in the course of the new two-lane construction of the B 480n, an efficient connection to the higher-level road network at the Wünnenberg-Haaren motorway junction with connections to the A 33 and to would arise the A 44 . While the legally binding planning approval decision is available for the Bad Wünnenberg bypass and construction began with the groundbreaking on September 12, 2013, the Brilon / Alme bypass is only included in the further needs with a special nature conservation planning mandate in the Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan 2003.

On May 5, 2011, the council of the city of Olsberg passed a resolution on the prompt continuation of the A 46 / B 7n to the Wünnenberg / Haaren motorway junction. With the resolution, the decision-makers in the federal and state governments were prompted to create the prerequisites for the continuous construction of the A 46 / B 7n as a road in the west-east axis to the Wünnenberg / Haaren AK (A 44 / A 33) is being built. According to the resolution, the construction of the B 7n Bestwig / Nuttlar - Brilon up to the connection with the A 44 / A 33 is of particular importance for Olsberg and the region; This is the only way to efficiently connect the entire south-eastern part of the Hochsauerlandkreis to the regional road network. The initiators of the resolution expect positive effects for the regional economy.

Section Herzberg - Mackenrode - Nordhausen

The B 243 from AS Scharzfeld to AS Bad Sachsa-West has been implemented on the approximate course of the A 46 . However, this was less related to the A 46, but happened in the course of the B 243 as a corner connection from the A 7 (AS Seesen) to the A 38 (AS Großwechselungen). The planning from Mackenrode to Nordhausen was abandoned, only the section from the AS Großwechselungen (A 38) to the connection to the district road 4 north of Großwechselungen was realized in 2012 on the basis of the original A 46 planning similar to a motorway.

noise protection

Since the beginning of the 21st century, around 30 noise protection measures have been implemented along the A 46 in the Wuppertal city area alone. The investment costs amounted to approx. 54 million euros. According to the State Office for Road Construction NRW, 75 to 80 percent of the planned noise protection measures were completed by the end of 2008. This includes conventional noise barriers and the concrete enclosures (or galleries) in Wuppertal at the height of Hansastraße and Sternenberg . These almost 600 meter long enclosures build over the directional lanes leading to Düsseldorf. The housings, which are open to the median, are supported by pillars, the other side is closed. Despite the fact that they are open on one side, they are equated with a tunnel under road law . In addition, the mastic asphalt was replaced by whisper asphalt in the Düsseldorf-Wersten area .

Originally, in the 1960s, it was planned to largely enclose the then B 326 (today: A 46) in the urban area of Wuppertal, including the Sonnborner Kreuz. In the absence of financial means, this was rejected.

Straßen NRW would like to improve the noise protection in Barmen. The construction of a 9 meter high noise protection wall with a length of 344 meters in the direction of Düsseldorf between the exit of the junction Barmen and Winchenbachstrasse is planned from 2024. Before that, the bridges over Winchenbachstrasse, Hatzfelder Strasse and at the Barmen interchange have to be demolished and rebuilt. The costs are estimated at 20 to 25 million euros.

Traffic management

One of the sign gantries in the Wuppertal area

By signaling systems , the black spots are defused harmonize the traffic flow and traffic density are equalized, so-called traffic-control equipment, and the gantries.

The first system of this type was installed in 1984 on the A 46 on the Wuppertal section. The system of signs with tempo specifications did not work reliably and was switched off ten years later at the instigation of the then State Transport Minister Franz-Josef Kniola. For example, the system showed a speed of 60 despite the empty motorway in the direction of Düsseldorf. Tempo 120 was also allowed in fog and poor visibility.

In 2002 the second generation of the route control system was installed and inaugurated. For the time being, the system was only implemented in the direction of Hagen. The investments for this amounted to around 1.2 million euros. In mid-2006, the system was put into operation in the direction of Düsseldorf. The system is intended to record the current traffic and weather situation on the motorway and, depending on this situation, influence the behavior of vehicle traffic. The current traffic is recorded by induction loops in the roadway, which measure the volume and density of traffic as well as the speed of travel. Weather stations at the edge of the motorway also record the road surface, wind and visibility.

In the Wuppertal area, so-called flow control systems , i.e. traffic lights on the driveways, were put into operation in June 2005. This investment of around 270,000 euros for the three completed driveways was financed from federal funds. The efficiency of these systems is being called into question.

A new generation of route control systems in the form of a sign gantry was put into operation at the end of 2008 in front of the Wuppertal-Nord motorway junction , as was previously the case at the Hilden junction , in the east direction. The investment was around 600,000 euros.

Web links

Commons : Bundesautobahn 46 - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Detailed route description of the federal highway 46

Individual evidence

↑ Construction work on federal trunk roads in 1972. Expansion of federal trunk roads from 1971 to 1985. Annex to the road construction report 1972. Federal Minister of Transport, Road Construction Department, accessed on March 31, 2013 (map excerpt).

^ The Great Shell Atlas, new edition, Mairs Geographischer Verlag, Stuttgart, 1973/1974, sheet 31

^ First law of August 5, 1976 amending the law on the expansion of federal trunk roads from 1971 to 1985, Federal Law Gazette 1976, Part I, p. 2093

↑ ^a ^b B56n now complete: Eastern section opened to traffic. State Office for Road Construction North Rhine-Westphalia, May 3, 2017, accessed on March 8, 2019 .

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Construction work on federal trunk roads in 1972. Expansion of federal trunk roads from 1971 to 1985. Annex to the road construction report 1972. Federal Minister of Transport, Road Construction Department, accessed on March 31, 2013 (map excerpt).

^ Information from the Federal Government. Road construction report 1975. Bundestag printed paper 7/5677. (PDF 5.4 MB) German Bundestag, 7th electoral term, August 6, 1976, accessed on April 7, 2013 (PDF file).

↑ Network of federal motorways and federal highways. Status January 1, 1976. Federal Minister of Transport, Road Construction Department, accessed on March 31, 2013 (map excerpt).

↑ Düsseldorfer Stadtchronik 1956. State capital Düsseldorf, accessed on February 5, 2018 (article).

↑ Dieter Kraß: The historical Vohwinkel. Construction of the motorway by Vohwinkel. Accessed April 1, 2013 (Internet contribution).

↑ History of the A 46 Hagen - Iserlohn. Retrieved on March 31, 2013 (Internet article at www.autobahn-online.de).

↑ ^a ^b Note in: Westfalenpost from November 26, 2011

^ Michael Ludewig: Autobahn construction: As in the Wild West. One who went out to stop the planners. In: The time . February 20, 1981. Retrieved February 12, 2016 .

↑ ^a ^b Construction work on federal trunk roads in 1972. Expansion of federal trunk roads from 1971 to 1985. Annex to the road construction report 1972. Federal Minister of Transport, Road Construction Department, accessed on March 31, 2013 (map excerpt).

↑ ^a ^b Network of federal motorways and federal highways. Status January 1, 1976. Federal Minister of Transport, Road Construction Department, accessed on August 31, 2015 (map excerpt).

↑ Network of federal motorways and federal highways. Status January 1, 1976. Federal Minister of Transport, Road Construction Department, accessed on March 31, 2013 (map excerpt).

↑ Karl-Heinz Hamacher: It's a little faster now. Aachener Nachrichten, July 22, 2011, accessed on March 31, 2013 (newspaper article).

↑ Michael Heckers: Erkelenz - A 46: Extension in sight. In: Rheinische Post. July 8, 2011, accessed August 31, 2015 .

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[KB-1] , plans discarded

[2] Urgent need

[3] rmerly Arnsberg-Rathausplatz

[4] rmerly Arnsberg-Niedereimer

[5] rmerly Arnsberg-Uentrop

[sbb1972-anlage-6] Construction work on federal trunk roads in 1972. Expansion of federal trunk roads from 1971 to 1985. Annex to the road construction report 1972. Federal Minister of Transport, Road Construction Department, accessed on March 31, 2013 (map excerpt).

[7] The Great Shell Atlas, new edition, Mairs Geographischer Verlag, Stuttgart, 1973/1974, sheet 31

[8] First law of August 5, 1976 amending the law on the expansion of federal trunk roads from 1971 to 1985, Federal Law Gazette 1976, Part I, p. 2093

[:0-9] B56n now complete: Eastern section opened to traffic. State Office for Road Construction North Rhine-Westphalia, May 3, 2017, accessed on March 8, 2019 .

[sbb-1972-05-10] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Construction work on federal trunk roads in 1972. Expansion of federal trunk roads from 1971 to 1985. Annex to the road construction report 1972. Federal Minister of Transport, Road Construction Department, accessed on March 31, 2013 (map excerpt).

[11] Information from the Federal Government. Road construction report 1975. Bundestag printed paper 7/5677. (PDF 5.4 MB) German Bundestag, 7th electoral term, August 6, 1976, accessed on April 7, 2013 (PDF file).

[12] Network of federal motorways and federal highways. Status January 1, 1976. Federal Minister of Transport, Road Construction Department, accessed on March 31, 2013 (map excerpt).

[13] Düsseldorfer Stadtchronik 1956. State capital Düsseldorf, accessed on February 5, 2018 (article).

[14] Dieter Kraß: The historical Vohwinkel. Construction of the motorway by Vohwinkel. Accessed April 1, 2013 (Internet contribution).

[15] History of the A 46 Hagen - Iserlohn. Retrieved on March 31, 2013 (Internet article at www.autobahn-online.de).

[ReferenceA-16] Note in: Westfalenpost from November 26, 2011

[17] Michael Ludewig: Autobahn construction: As in the Wild West. One who went out to stop the planners. In: The time . February 20, 1981. Retrieved February 12, 2016 .

[sbb-1972-06-18] Construction work on federal trunk roads in 1972. Expansion of federal trunk roads from 1971 to 1985. Annex to the road construction report 1972. Federal Minister of Transport, Road Construction Department, accessed on March 31, 2013 (map excerpt).

[1976-06-19] Network of federal motorways and federal highways. Status January 1, 1976. Federal Minister of Transport, Road Construction Department, accessed on August 31, 2015 (map excerpt).

[20] Network of federal motorways and federal highways. Status January 1, 1976. Federal Minister of Transport, Road Construction Department, accessed on March 31, 2013 (map excerpt).

[21] Karl-Heinz Hamacher: It's a little faster now. Aachener Nachrichten, July 22, 2011, accessed on March 31, 2013 (newspaper article).

[22] Michael Heckers: Erkelenz - A 46: Extension in sight. In: Rheinische Post. July 8, 2011, accessed August 31, 2015 .

[23] Wilfried Rhein: The last section of the B 56n can begin. In: Aachener Nachrichten. December 19, 2011, accessed March 31, 2013 (newspaper article).

[24] A46 Heinsberg - Brilon. In: www.autobahn-online.de. Retrieved August 31, 2015 .

[25] A44, A61: A motorway gives way to Garzweiler II | Streets.NRW. In: www.strassen.nrw.de. Accessed December 31, 2016 .

[26] Streets.NRW. Closing gaps on the motorways in North Rhine-Westphalia. Landesbetrieb Straßenbau Nordrhein-Westfalen, accessed on April 6, 2013 (Internet article ).

[27] Planned extension of the A46 motorway in North Sauerland. Verkehrsclub Deutschland - Kreisverband Hagen - Märkischer Kreis eV, accessed on April 6, 2013 (Internet post).

[28] Mobile instead of planned. Association for the Environment and Nature Conservation Germany V., accessed on August 31, 2015 (Internet article ).

[29] Group initiative against Autobahn 46. Group initiative against Autobahn 46, accessed on April 6, 2013 (Internet presence of the citizens' initiative).

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[Priorisierungliste-31] Federal requirement plan measures. Prioritization list planning NRW. (PDF 483 kB) Ministry for Building, Housing, Urban Development and Transport of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, October 25, 2011, accessed on April 6, 2013 (PDF file).

[32] Thorsten Bottin: Motorway section - NRW government: A 46 should end in Menden. Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung Online, September 23, 2011, accessed on April 6, 2013 (Internet article ).

[33] Heinz Krischer: Autobahn - Mayors agree. Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung Online, November 25, 2011, accessed on April 6, 2013 (Internet article ).

[WR-2013-06-08-34] A ^b Martin Korte: Traffic - New approach for A46 gap closure. In: Westfälische Rundschau. July 8, 2013, accessed August 31, 2015 .

[35] Thorsten Bottin: Closing the gap A46: Solution in sight. In: WAZ. February 15, 2014, accessed August 31, 2015 .

[36] A46 expansion: opening date for section to Nuttlar is. In: Westfalenpost. September 5, 2019, accessed October 30, 2019 .

[37] WP Meschede: A46: First groundbreaking on Friday. In: Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung. Online portal. September 1, 2009, archived from the original on April 5, 2013 ; accessed on August 31, 2015 (Internet post).

[38] Ute Tolksdorf: “A day of joy for all Bestwiger”. In: Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung. Online portal. September 4, 2009, archived from the original on April 5, 2013 ; accessed on August 31, 2015 (Internet post).

[39] Groundbreaking for the bypass in 2013. In: Neue Westfälische Online. December 5, 2012, accessed on August 31, 2015 (Internet post).

[40] Resolution to continue the A46 and B7n from the city of Olsberg. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012 ; Retrieved on September 20, 2015 (CDU Olsberg website).

[41] AS major changes. In: www.autobahnkreuze-online.de. Archived from the original on August 31, 2015 ; accessed on March 8, 2018 .

[42] Christian Herrendorf / Thomas Reisener: Whispering asphalt for A46 in Wersten. In: Rheinische Post Online. January 19, 2012, accessed on April 6, 2013 (Internet post).

[27._November_2008-43] Stefan Melneczuk: Noise protection on the A46: Help is in sight. In: Westdeutsche Zeitung (online). November 27, 2008, accessed August 31, 2015 .

[44] Eike Rüdebusch: Noise protection: nine-meter wall on the A46. In: Westdeutsche Zeitung (online). December 6, 2016, accessed January 22, 2018 .

[WZ_2009-01-19-45] Technology against the permanent traffic jam on the A 46. In: Westdeutsche Zeitung (online). January 19, 2009, accessed August 31, 2015 .