Bundesstraße 7

Federal Highway 7
Federal Highway 7
Bundesstraße 7 (German)
Route information
Length	530 km (330 mi)
Major junctions
West end	Dutch border at Venlo
East end	Rochlitz near Chemnitz
Location
Country	Germany
States	North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Thuringia, Saxony
Highway system
	Roads in Germany; Autobahns List; ; Federal List; ; State; E-roads;

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

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

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

State	District	Location	km	mi	Destinations	Notes
		14	Büderich A 52
			Neuss
			Düsseldorf
			Düsseldorf-Oberkassel
		Theodor-Heuss Bridge
			Düsseldorf-Kennedydamm [[File:Bundesstraße 1 B 8 number.svg\|x24px\|link=\|alt=]] [[Bundesstraße 1 B 8\|B 1 B 8]]
			Düsseldorf-Mörsenbroich [[File:Bundesstraße 1 B 8 number.svg\|x24px\|link=\|alt=]] [[Bundesstraße 1 B 8\|B 1 B 8]]
			Düsseldorf-Düsseltal
			Düsseldorf-Grafenberg
		18	Mettmann A 3
			Wuppertal-Vohwinkel B 224
		11	Wuppertal-Dornap [[File:Bundesautobahn 535 B 224 number.svg\|x24px\|link=\|alt=]] [[Bundesautobahn 535 B 224\|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
		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

		71	Bestwig A 46
			Bestwig
			Brilon [[File:Bundesstraße 480 B 251 number.svg\|x24px\|link=\|alt=]] [[Bundesstraße 480 B 251\|B 480 B 251]]
			Marsberg
		63	Marsberg A 44
			Scherfede [[File:Bundesstraße 68 B 252 number.svg\|x24px\|link=\|alt=]] [[Bundesstraße 68 B 252\|B 68 B 252]]
			Warburg B 252

			Calden
			Anschluss B 83
			Espenau
			Vellmar
			Nieder-Vellmar
			Kassel [[File:Bundesstraße 251 B 3 B 83 number.svg\|x24px\|link=\|alt=]] [[Bundesstraße 251 B 3 B 83\|B 251 B 3 B 83]]
		78	Kassel-Ost A 7
			Kaufungen
			Helsa B 451
		76	Hessisch-Lichtenau-West A 44
		78	Hessisch Lichtenau-Ost A 44
		79	Waldkappel
			Wehretal-Oetmannshausen [[File:Bundesstraße 27 B 452 number.svg\|x24px\|link=\|alt=]] [[Bundesstraße 27 B 452\|B 27 B 452]]
			Wichmannshausen [[File:Bundesstraße 27 B 400 number.svg\|x24px\|link=\|alt=]] [[Bundesstraße 27 B 400\|B 27 B 400]]
			Ringgau-Datterode
			Ringgau-Netra
			Ringgau-Rittmannshausen

			Ifta
			Junction B 250
			Creuzburg
			Krauthausen-Deubachshof B 7a
		39a	Eisenach-West A 4

			Gotha B 247
		11	Erfurt-Bindersleben A 71

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

		60	Ronneburg A 4
			Schmölln
			Altenburg [[File:Bundesstraße 180 B 93 number.svg\|x24px\|link=\|alt=]] [[Bundesstraße 180 B 93\|B 180 B 93]]

			Frohburg B 95
		23	Geithein A 72
			Geithain
			Rochlitz [[File:Bundesstraße 107 B 175 number.svg\|x24px\|link=\|alt=]] [[Bundesstraße 107 B 175\|B 107 B 175]]