Nvidia's latest A100 GPU, recently launched, vexingly finds itself in congested digital traffic, hinting at possibilities of a delayed or paused release.
The 16th section of the A100 city highway in Berlin, the most expensive highway section in Germany to date with total costs of over 720 million euros, has faced traffic jams, closures, and political demands just a few days after its opening on Wednesday.
Experts had predicted bottlenecks at the nearby ElsenbrĂŒcke over the Spree towards Friedrichshain, as it is currently being renovated and only available as a single lane. These concerns have proven to be well-founded, with traffic jams becoming visible on the motorway, according to traffic expert, Lars Bocian.
The ElsenbrĂŒcke, under renovation, has caused concerns about potential bottlenecks and traffic problems. In response, the Green and Left factions have demanded the closure of the 16th section until the completion of the Elsen Bridge reconstruction. However, CDU traffic expert, Lars Bocian, has rejected these demands, emphasizing the need for the 17th section to relieve traffic.
Another voice advocating for a closure is Andreas Knie from the Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin, who has called for the temporary closure of the 16th section of the A100 city highway until the renovation of the ElsenbrĂŒcke is completed, which is currently expected in 2028. Kristian Ronneburg from the Left faction has suggested closing the route again if traffic jams and closures become a permanent fixture after the summer holidays.
The SPD member of the Berlin state parliament, Tino Schopf, has demanded the closure of the 16th section of the A100 in Berlin after its opening and criticized the traffic chaos, holding Traffic Senator Ute Bonde (CDU) responsible for the situation.
Despite these demands, the Federal Highway Company has not yet commented on the matter or provided any information on possible closures or short-term countermeasures. The traffic jam on the new A100 on Friday was caused by heavy overloading on the 16th section heading towards the end of the highway in Treptow. To avoid a standstill in the tunnel, the affected section of the new A100 was temporarily closed.
The new section of the A100 city highway extends from the Neukölln interchange to the new exit Treptower Park, where a traffic light regulates traffic flow. The first cars rolled onto the new A100 section on Wednesday afternoon, after official representatives and guests celebrated the symbolic start at 1 pm.
The discussion over the traffic future of Berlin is divided, as shown by the current situation regarding the 16th section of the A100 city highway. The situation is likely to continue as a topic of debate in the coming weeks and months, with the potential for further closures and political pressure.
