Copenhagen mayor pledges better traffic communication after Amager gridlock

Copenhagen’s climate, environment, and technical affairs mayor Line Barfod has admitted the city failed to adequately communicate roadworks that caused nearly a week of severe traffic congestion on Amager, state broadcaster DR reports.

Extensive construction—including the expansion of the Amager motorway, work at Christmas Møllers Plads, Langebro, and Vejlands Allé—left drivers trapped in hours-long queues, with some receiving fines for illegal lane changes. Copenhagen Police issued 87 tickets over two days on Langebro alone.

Barfod, a member of the left-green Enhedslisten party, stated the city would review how it announces major infrastructure projects. “We can clearly do better at communicating the massive challenges posed by large state-led projects,” she said. She added that she was in close dialogue with neighboring mayors in Tårnby and Dragør, as well as political colleagues in City Hall.

No immediate changes to the roadworks are planned. “I can’t halt the Amager motorway expansion or Energinet’s major project—these are state-run initiatives that people also want,” Barfod said. “The issue is that they’ve been scheduled simultaneously.”

Some Amager roadworks may finish before the summer break, while others will continue for years.