- Bundesstraße 7
The Bundesstraße 7 (abbreviated B 7) in Germany is a
Bundesstraße that stretches from the Dutch border atVenlo in the West toRochlitz byChemnitz in the East. It is approximately 530 km long. Because of its western start point, inKassel ,Calden and other cities, the B 7 is known as the "Holländische Straße" or "Dutch Street".History
The former Reichsstraße 7 extended from Schmölln over
Meerane ,Glauchau ,Chemnitz and Freiberg toDresden , where it linked with the Reichsstraße 6. The former portion between Chemnitz andDresden is now called theBundesstraße 173 .The segment between
Wuppertal andHagen was constructed in1788 , making it one of the oldest roads in westernGermany . The stretch connectingIserlohn andMenden was built between1816 and1817 .Between
Eisenach andErfurt the B 7 follows the path of the formerVia Regia . The original plan marked Dresden as he eastern terminus, however this portion was completed during theThird Reich and called theBundesstraße 173 .New Developments
In some areas the Bundesstraße 7 is replaced by
Autobahns . For example, betweenHagen-Hohenlimburg and the former autobahn terminus in the eastern city ofIserlohn the B 7 becomes theBundesautobahn 46 . Also, between Kassel and Eisenach the B 7 is slated to be replaced by the newBundesautobahn 44 , the first piece of which was opened atHessisch Lichtenau was in October2005 . Environmental concerns have been raised about the project, as the autobahn is proposed to run through thenational park Meißner-Kaufunger Wald .Since August 2005 heavy transport vehicles have been banned from a 157 km 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.External links
* [http://www.strassenimpressionen.com http://www.strassenimpressionen.com] - photographs of the Bundesstraße 7
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