Snow catastrophe in the Olpe district: traffic paralyzed and endless accidents!

On January 9, 2025, strong snowfall in the Olpe district caused considerable traffic impairments. Verkehrsbetriebe Westfalen-Süd temporarily stopped bus traffic in the Olpe and Siegen-Wittgenstein districts. The Westfalen-Bus employees reported delays and driving losses in the entire bus traffic in the region.

The district police authority Olpe reported several accidents with at least five -digit damage to property. In the continued snowfalls, numerous trucks stood across the streets and were waiting for the scattering service, while many stray cars were in use. The train traffic on the Ruhr win line was also affected, since fallen trees prevented the operation of the lines RE 34 (Dortmund-Siegen) and RB 91 (Hagen-Iserlohn/Siegen).

smooth roads and accidents in NRW

As the reporting of WDR shows, the strong snowfall and freezing rain led to smooth roads in other parts of North Rhine-Westphalia. In many regions, including the Märkische Kreis, warned of extreme smoothness and snowbruch. Pedestrians, cyclists and bus and train drivers were asked to exercise special caution.

In the broadcast area, around 30 accidents were reported to highways, which was mostly sheet metal damage. Especially on the A1 between Remscheid and Hagen and the A45 (Sauerland Line) there were stuck trucks. Massive traffic jams on federal roads in the Sauerland and around Dortmund were reported, with over 100 kilometers of traffic jams in the afternoon, which sometimes resulted in long waiting times.

The police in Hagen asked drivers to leave their vehicles. The bus operation of Hagener Straßenbahn AG was discontinued, but partially resumed with irregularities. In addition, there was warned before entering forests after a large oak had fallen on the B236 in the Olpe district.

Overall, the onset of winter in North Rhine-Westphalia brought a number of traffic problems that the region presented with great challenges.