Towing Service Bochum

An independent city at the heart of the Ruhr area

Bochum lies at the geographic centre of the Ruhr area, on mostly flat ground north of the Ruhr river. The city is divided into six boroughs, split further into districts. In a breakdown, the district name and street help more than the borough, for example Werne, Weitmar, Wattenscheid or Stahlhausen.

The A40: once federal road 1

The A40 runs as the Ruhrschnellweg centrally through the major Ruhr-area cities. At every exit between Mülheim-Winkhausen and Bochum-Werne, traffic-management systems, so-called "metering lights", control the flow of traffic onto the motorway. Several sections of the A40 in the Ruhr area carry over 100,000 vehicles a day. More at Towing Service Essen and Towing Service Dortmund.

A448: the southern bypass

The A448, commonly called the Bochum southern bypass, is a city motorway connecting the A40 at the Bochum-West triangle with the A45 at the Dortmund/Witten triangle, relieving the parallel A40 as part of the "Bochum solution" project. Sections of the former Bochum outer ring were renamed as the A448. Its exits include Bochum-West (formerly Wattenscheider Straße), Bochum-Stahlhausen (formerly Kohlenstraße), Bochum-Eppendorf (formerly Schützenstraße), Bochum-Weitmar (formerly Wasserstraße), Bochum-Süd (formerly Königsallee), and Bochum-Wiemelhausen. Because the names have changed, many drivers still know the old street names. If in doubt, tell us both.

A43: Münster–Wuppertal

The A43 starts at the Münster-Süd interchange and runs via Recklinghausen to the Wuppertal-Nord interchange, crossing the western Münsterland and the Ruhr area, serving as a relief route for the A1. Because of bridge damage on the Emschertal bridge near Herne, the A43 between the Recklinghausen and Herne interchanges currently only allows vehicles up to a 3.5-tonne gross weight limit. Heavier vehicles must divert via the A2, A45 and A42. If you're in a van or truck, tell us the gross weight limit so the callout can be planned accordingly. More in our guide Towing a van.

Waiting safely in Bochum

On the A40, A43 or A448: hazard lights on, everyone behind the crash barrier, set up a warning triangle if it's safe to do so. At an A40 metering light: hazard lights on and, if possible, wait on the hard shoulder before the light rather than in the middle of the queue. With a van or truck on the A43: have the gross weight ready in case a diversion is needed.

Where it often happens in Bochum

At the A40's metering lights, traffic regularly backs up onto the feeder roads. At the Bochum-West triangle, where the A448 meets the A40, traffic is denser because of lane changes. On the A43 between the Recklinghausen and Herne interchanges, the weight restriction often causes short-notice diversions for heavier vehicles.

How to describe your location in Bochum

• District and street, plus house number or cross street.
• On the A40, A43 or A448: motorway, direction, exit, triangle or interchange (old and new name, if known).
• For vans and trucks: gross weight limit, because of the A43 restriction.
• At A40 metering lights: exit and direction of travel.

Neighbouring cities in the Ruhr area: Dortmund, Essen and Duisburg. All cities: Towing service in your city (German). General steps: Breaking down on the motorway.