Dilapidated motorways: Southern Bavaria imposes speed limits indefinitely

The reason for this is the condition of the old concrete roadways, which date back to the 1980s and have exceeded the end of their intended service life. To ensure road safety and prevent accidents caused by sudden road damage, the Autobahn GmbH Südbayern (South Bavaria Highway Authority) has announced new speed limits.

The most important regulations from May 2025:

• Speed ​​limit of 120 km/h for cars on all affected sections
• Speed ​​limit of 80 km/h for motorcycles – but only in the summer months from May to September

These measures concern the following sections:

• A3: Between Deggendorf motorway junction and Hengersberg junction
• A92: Between the Oberschleißheim junction and the Eching-Ost junction, between the Freising-Süd junction and the Freising-Ost junction, and between Landshut-West and Dingolfing-Ost
• A93: Between Saalhaupt junction and Elsendorf junction

The old concrete roadways on these stretches show significant structural damage caused by decades of traffic and extreme temperature fluctuations. Especially on hot days, sudden heat damage can cause so-called "blow-ups," in which concrete slabs lift or crack. This unpredictable damage poses a high risk, especially for motorcyclists who rely on smooth, high-traction road surfaces.

What are heat blowups? A heat blowup on a highway refers to a sudden, temperature-related cracking of the road surface – usually on older concrete pavements. Strong sunlight and high ambient temperatures can cause the concrete to expand so much that it warps or suddenly bulges. In extreme cases, individual slabs break up at the joints, forming a ledge or crack in the roadway.

Since 2013, asphalt strips have been installed on the affected highway sections at intervals of approximately 400 meters to reduce stress in the concrete. However, despite these precautionary measures, heat damage cannot be completely ruled out.

As Josef Seebacher, spokesman for the Autobahndirektion Süd, explained to Bayerischer Rundfunk, old concrete expands suddenly at high temperatures and can fail – comparable to a sudden earthquake. Entire pieces of concrete could break off or slabs could bulge upward, resulting in significant hazards. This situation is particularly dangerous for motorcyclists. In 2012, a fatal accident occurred on the A93 as a result of such roadway damage.

The planned speed limits will be implemented through signage and will remain in place until the affected road sections are resurfaced. According to the Autobahn GmbH, further deterioration of the road conditions may require a further reduction in the maximum permitted speed.

The ADAC explicitly supports the measure. A spokesperson emphasized to BR24 that speed limits are necessary in cases of serious safety risks, even if isolated complaints from car drivers or motorcyclists are to be expected. Safety must take priority. At the same time, the ADAC called for a faster approach to the comprehensive renovation of the affected highways.

The additional 80 km/h speed limit for motorcycles during the summer months is a targeted accident prevention measure, as the risk of crashes due to sudden road damage is significantly higher in high temperatures. This special regulation is waived during the cooler months because the risk of heat damage is lower.

Extensive renovation projects already demonstrate the high level of effort: Over 100 kilometers of old concrete sections on the A3 have already been completely rebuilt. The final section near Deggendorf is currently being prepared for six-lane expansion. Similar projects are also underway on the A93 between Regensburg-Süd and the Saalhaupt interchange, as well as on the A92 near Landshut, although a lack of budgetary resources is delaying some planning.

You can read the most important facts about German motorways in the photo show.