Beware of the wave depressions on the A35 in Alsace! The floods have turned this highway into an unpredictable trap. Discover how this iconic stretch has become the scene of spectacular and stressful events.
Floods in Alsace: a concerning situation
For several days, Alsace has been facing heavy rains that have caused flooding in several regions. The departments of Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin have been particularly affected, with overflowing watercourses and significant material damage. The A35 highway, which crosses the region, has proven to be a real trap for many motorists.
The A35 highway closed near Routzenheim
One of the areas most affected by the floods is the municipality of Routzenheim, located in Bas-Rhin. Since the early afternoon of Thursday, May 23, the A35 highway has been closed in the south-north direction at this municipality. The roadway is completely flooded, making it impossible for vehicles to circulate. A detour has been set up at exit 55 to bypass this section of the highway.
In the opposite direction, the roadway is partially submerged, allowing vehicles to only travel on one lane. This situation has caused significant traffic jams, with backups of several kilometers.
Emergency services interventions to evacuate water
The emergency services were quickly mobilized to deal with this emergency situation. Between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM, the Fire and Rescue Service (SIS) of Bas-Rhin carried out 122 interventions, some of which involved removing water that had infiltrated several premises in the Soufflenheim and Eurometropolis of Strasbourg sectors. A total of 13 vehicles and 32 firefighters were deployed in the Soufflenheim area, while 14 vehicles and 28 firefighters were mobilized in the Eurometropolis of Strasbourg.
Fortunately, there have been no reported casualties, but 77 interventions remain to be addressed according to the SIS of Bas-Rhin. The emergency services still have a lot of work to do to assist residents and manage the consequences of the floods.
Yellow alert for storms
This flooding situation is linked to the heavy rains that have fallen on Alsace in recent days. The departments of Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin were placed on yellow alert for storms between 12 PM and 11 PM on Thursday, May 23. Storms accompanied by heavy rains and sometimes hail were reported, worsening the risk of flooding.
In addition to the A35 highway, other roads in the region were submerged, rendering access impossible. The D58 between Krautwiller and Wingersheim, as well as the D89 in Mothern, were particularly inaccessible by the end of the day.
The impact on daily life
These floods have also had an impact on the daily lives of the residents of Alsace. In Strasbourg, for instance, Marcel Proust road was closed due to rising waters. Sidewalks, roadways, and even tram tracks were covered by water. The circulation of trams A and D was interrupted between the stops Rotonde and Hopital de Hautepierre, thus disrupting users’ travel.
In the municipality of Zinswiller, a particularly localized storm caused the overflow of a ditch. The D28, which runs through the municipality, was submerged for half an hour. A few basements were flooded, but fortunately, no major damage or injuries have been reported.
In light of these recurrent floods, many questions arise regarding the planning of road infrastructures in Alsace. Measures must be taken to prevent and limit the risks of flooding, particularly on the A35 highway, which plays a vital role in regional traffic. Local authorities will therefore need to work on implementing sustainable solutions to prevent such situations from occurring again in the future.