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.

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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

History

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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

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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

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  (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
  (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

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