Bundesautobahn 61, Federal motorway in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
Bundesautobahn 61 is a major federal motorway spanning about 331 kilometers from the Dutch border near Venlo to a junction near Hockenheim. It connects three German states and passes through regions with significant industrial areas and important traffic intersections.
The motorway was completed in the 1970s, creating a vital link between the Netherlands, Belgium, and southern Germany. The project was part of broader German infrastructure development aimed at improving international connectivity.
The motorway follows the Rhine River's path through regions of wine production, connecting numerous towns while maintaining distance from densely populated areas.
Certain sections between Mönchengladbach and Jackerath have different speed limits that drivers must observe carefully. The route includes multiple rest areas and service stations distributed along the entire stretch for driver convenience.
A section near Gelsdorf contains an emergency landing runway for government aircraft operations. This unusual feature on a motorway reflects Cold War-era strategic planning for the nation's transportation network.
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