A new traffic configuration went live on 22 December at the fixed control point on the A12 motorway near Frankfurt (Oder), a crossing notorious for 10-kilometre jams since permanent border checks returned last year. The redesign adds a dedicated lane for passenger cars, clearer signage and a buffer zone where trucks are processed off the main carriageway.
Mayor Axel Strasser hailed the project as an “important step” for the twin-city economy of Frankfurt (Oder) and Słubice. More than 4,000 Polish residents commute daily to German employers, and just-in-time supply chains feed auto-parts and e-commerce warehouses on both sides of the Oder. Hauliers estimate every hour lost at the checkpoint costs €200 per lorry in driver time and penalties for missed delivery slots.
![A12 Checkpoint Redesign Aims to Cut Tailbacks on German-Polish Border]()
For travellers who may suddenly need updated travel documentation as border rules fluctuate, VisaHQ can remove much of the hassle. Through its Germany portal (https://www.visahq.com/germany/), the service offers fast visa and passport processing, courier pickup and real-time status alerts—handy for commuters, truck drivers and mobility managers determined to avoid additional delays at checkpoints.
Early modelling by the local chamber of commerce suggests the new layout could cut average wait times by one-third. Business groups, however, continue to lobby Berlin and Warsaw to phase out fixed controls once EU migration talks conclude in spring 2026. Until then, mobility managers advise drivers to carry employer letters explaining essential travel, monitor real-time traffic apps and consider rail alternatives via the nearby Küstrin crossing where inspections remain mobile.
The trial will be reviewed after six weeks. If successful, the Federal Police say similar design tweaks could be rolled out on the A17 (Czech border) and the B27 (Swiss border) ahead of the Easter freight surge.
Mayor Axel Strasser hailed the project as an “important step” for the twin-city economy of Frankfurt (Oder) and Słubice. More than 4,000 Polish residents commute daily to German employers, and just-in-time supply chains feed auto-parts and e-commerce warehouses on both sides of the Oder. Hauliers estimate every hour lost at the checkpoint costs €200 per lorry in driver time and penalties for missed delivery slots.
For travellers who may suddenly need updated travel documentation as border rules fluctuate, VisaHQ can remove much of the hassle. Through its Germany portal (https://www.visahq.com/germany/), the service offers fast visa and passport processing, courier pickup and real-time status alerts—handy for commuters, truck drivers and mobility managers determined to avoid additional delays at checkpoints.
Early modelling by the local chamber of commerce suggests the new layout could cut average wait times by one-third. Business groups, however, continue to lobby Berlin and Warsaw to phase out fixed controls once EU migration talks conclude in spring 2026. Until then, mobility managers advise drivers to carry employer letters explaining essential travel, monitor real-time traffic apps and consider rail alternatives via the nearby Küstrin crossing where inspections remain mobile.
The trial will be reviewed after six weeks. If successful, the Federal Police say similar design tweaks could be rolled out on the A17 (Czech border) and the B27 (Swiss border) ahead of the Easter freight surge.
