Bundesstraße 7

B 7 shield}}
B 7
Bundesstraße 7
Route information
Length530 km (330 mi)
Major junctions
West endDutch border at Venlo
East endRochlitz near Chemnitz
Location
CountryGermany
StatesNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Thuringia, Saxony
Highway system
  • Roads in Germany

The Bundesstraße 7 (abbr. B7) is a German federal highway (Bundesstraße) that stretches from the Dutch border at Venlo in the West to Rochlitz near Chemnitz in the East. It is approximately 530 km (330 mi) long. Because of its western origin some stretches of the B 7 are designated as "Holländische Straße" (Dutch Road), e.g., in Kassel and Calden.

History

[edit]

The former Reichsstraße 7 extended from Schmölln over Meerane, Glauchau, Chemnitz and Freiberg to Dresden, where it linked with the Reichsstraße 6. The former portion between Chemnitz and Dresden is now called the Bundesstraße 173.

The segment between Wuppertal and Hagen was constructed in 1788 (236 years ago) (1788), making it one of the oldest roads in western Germany. The stretch connecting Iserlohn and Menden was built between 1816 and 1817 (207 years ago) (1817).

Between Eisenach and Erfurt the B 7 follows the path of the former Via Regia. The original plan marked Dresden as he eastern terminus, however this portion was completed during the Third Reich and called the Bundesstraße 173.

New Developments

[edit]

In some areas the Bundesstraße 7 is replaced by Autobahns. For example, between Hagen-Hohenlimburg and the former autobahn terminus in the eastern city of Iserlohn the B 7 becomes the Bundesautobahn 46. Also, between Kassel and Eisenach the B 7 is slated to be replaced by the new Bundesautobahn 44, the first piece of which was opened at Hessisch Lichtenau was in October 2005. Environmental concerns have been raised about the project, as the autobahn is proposed to run through the national park Meißner-Kaufunger Wald.

Since August 2005 heavy transport vehicles have been banned from a 157 km (98 mi) stretch of the B 7. The ban applies for a year and is enforced between Kassel at the A 7 junction and Wehretal. Vehicles originating or ending in the Kassel area are exempt from the ban.

Route / Junctions

[edit]
(14) Büderich A 52
Neuss
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf-Oberkassel
Theodor-Heuss Bridge
Düsseldorf-Kennedydamm B 1 B 8
Düsseldorf-Mörsenbroich B 1 B 8
Düsseldorf-Düsseltal
Düsseldorf-Grafenberg
(18) Mettmann A 3
Wuppertal-Vohwinkel B 224
(11) Wuppertal-Dornap A 535 B 224
Wuppertal-Elberfeld-West
Wuppertal-Elberfeld
Wuppertal-Barmen
Wuppertal-Oberbarmen
(93) Wuppertal-Langerfeld A 1
Schwelm B 483
Ennepetal
Gevelsberg
Hagen B 54
(44) Hagen-Elsey A 46

replaced by A 46

(45) Iserlohn-Letmathe B 236
(46) Iserlohn-Oestrich B 236
(48) Iserlohn-Seilersee B 233

(49) Hemer A 46
Hemer
Menden (Sauerland) B 515
Wickede-Wimbern
(62) Arnsberg-Neheim A 46

replaced by A 46


(71) Bestwig A 46
Bestwig
Brilon B 480 B 251
Marsberg
(63) Marsberg A 44
Scherfede B 68 B 252
Warburg B 252
Hesse
Calden
Anschluss B 83
Espenau
Vellmar
Nieder-Vellmar
Kassel B 251 B 3 B 83
Intersection (78) Kassel-Ost 3-way interchange A 7
Kaufungen
Helsa B 451
(74) Helsa-West
(75) Helsa-Ost
(76) Hessisch-Lichtenau-West
(77) Hessisch Lictenau-Mitte
(78) Hessisch Lichtenau-Ost
(79) Waldkappel
(80) Eschwege
(81) Ringgau B 7 B 27
Free State of Thuringia
Ifta
Junction B 250
Creuzburg
Krauthausen-Deubachshof B 7a
(39a) Eisenach-West A 4

Re-routed to the A4 since 2006, in 2011 the old A4 becomes the B19


Replaced by A 4 B 247


Gotha B 247
(11) Erfurt-Bindersleben A 71

A 71


(7) Erfurt-Nord A 71
Erfurt
Mönchenholzhausen
Weimar B 85
Umpferstedt B 87
Jena B 88
(22) Eisenberg A 9

A 9 A 4


(60) Ronneburg A 4
Schmölln
Altenburg B 180 B 93
Free State of Saxony
Frohburg B 95
(23) Geithein A 72
Geithain
Rochlitz B 107 B 175

See also

[edit]
[edit]