Bundesstraße 7

B 7
B 7
Bundesstraße 7
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

	(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