The final stretch of the E45 between Vejle and Skanderborg opened overnight with three lanes in each direction, ending three years of roadworks and night closures almost a year ahead of schedule.
Drivers on the E45 now have three lanes in each direction along the entire 83 kilometer stretch from Skærup south of Vejle to Aarhus Nord. DR reports that the last asphalt was laid overnight, removing lower speed limits, narrowed lanes and night closures.
Per Vejdirektoratet project manager John Kjærsgaard, the gain goes to road users, who no longer have to contend with the agency’s roadworks. The project was originally due to finish in the summer of 2027. It also stayed within its budget, according to DR.
The last six kilometers and what else has opened
The final piece is a six kilometer section between Horsens S and Horsens V, which opens with three lanes each way and a 130 km/h speed limit. As reported by Avisen.nu, that completes the full 38 kilometer widening between Vejle and Skanderborg, and the separate E45 ring section around Aarhus is now also finished with three lanes in each direction.
Motoring organization FDM notes that the Aarhus motorway junction linking the E45, Djurslandsmotorvejen and Århusvej is open, and that there was no opening ceremony. FDM adds that the separate widening work around Kolding is still expected to be completed in late 2027.
The widening was adopted by a broad majority in the Folketing in 2021 as part of Infrastrukturplan 2035, according to Avisen.nu, with construction starting in 2023. The first three lane stage opened in the autumn of 2025.
Why the work finished early
Vejdirektoratet credits thorough planning and close cooperation with consultants, contractors, municipalities, the Home Guard, police and emergency services, Avisen.nu reports. In its press release distributed by Ritzau, the agency says the schedule held despite hard winter weather in early 2026 and heavy rain in late summer and autumn.
There is some variation in the dates reported. The Vejdirektoratet release of November 9, 2026 said the section would open by Friday, November 13, while DR reports on November 12 that it opened overnight. TV2 Østjylland reports that Business Region Aarhus welcomed the opening but warned of congestion further north.
What the finished E45 means for international commuters and drivers
The E45 is Denmark’s main north to south motorway through Jutland and the standard route toward the German border. For internationals commuting between cities such as Vejle, Horsens, Skanderborg and Aarhus, the three year construction period meant 80 km/h limits and repeated night closures on the busiest section. Those restrictions are now gone along the 83 kilometers from Skærup to Aarhus Nord, with the final six kilometers signposted at 130 km/h, per Avisen.nu.
Speed limits on Danish motorways vary by section and are enforced with automatic and police checks, so the posted signs, not the general 130 km/h maximum, decide what applies. Rules on driving in Denmark apply equally to foreign residents, and anyone weighing the cost of owning a car here should note that roadworks continue elsewhere on the corridor. FDM states that the Kolding section remains under construction until late 2027, and TV2 Østjylland reports warnings of bottlenecks north of Aarhus.
