European route E45
# European route E45

The European route E45 goes between Norway and Italy, through Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Austria. With a length of about 5,190 kilometres (3,225 mi), it is the longest north–south European route (some east–west routes are longer).

The route passes through Alta (Norway) – Kautokeino – Hetta (Finland) – Palojoensuu – Kaaresuvanto – Gällivare (Sweden) – Porjus – Jokkmokk – Arvidsjaur – Östersund – Mora – Säffle – Åmål – Brålanda – Gothenburg ... Frederikshavn (Denmark) – Aalborg – Randers – Aarhus – Skanderborg – Vejle – Kolding – Frøslev – Flensburg (Germany) – Hamburg – Hanover – Hildesheim – Göttingen – Kassel – Fulda – Würzburg – Nuremberg – Munich – Rosenheim – Wörgl (Austria) – Innsbruck – Brenner – Fortezza (Italy) – Bolzano – Trento – Verona – Modena – Bologna – Cesena – Perugia – Fiano Romano – Naples – Salerno – Sicignano – Cosenza – Villa San Giovanni ... Messina – Catania – Siracusa – Gela.

## Norway and Finland

E45 is 172 km long in Norway and 101 km long in Finland. It has no other number in Norway, but follows routes 21 and 93 in Finland.

The E45 was not signposted in Finland after the 2006 extension, since the official document uses the Swedish version ("Karesuando") of the name of the village at the Finnish–Swedish border, hinting that it would start on the Swedish side. The Swedish government proposed the extension alone in 2005 and let the E45 end at the border, partly because of lack of interest from Finnish authorities. The gap between the end of E45 and the European route E8 was about 1 km along the existing Finnish regional road 959 Karesuvanto (FIN) – Karesuando (SWE)

In August 2016, after a political proposal in 2007, the governments of Norway and Finland applied for an extension of E45 Karesuando–Kaaresuvanto–Palojoensuu–Hetta–Kautokeino–Alta. This was approved by the work group, and became valid on 5 December 2017. E45 sign posts were mounted starting 9 February 2018, replacing route 93 in Norway, and complementing road 959, 21 and 93 in Finland.

## Sweden

In November 2006, the E45 was extended with the then existing Swedish national road 45, which makes it start from Karesuando at the Swedish–Finnish border (near the E8), over Östersund–Mora–Grums, to Gothenburg and on. This extended the length of the route by about 1,690 km (1,050 mi). The signs of road 45 was changed to E45 during the summer of 2007. The E45 has now no other national number. In Sweden the road is called Inlandsvägen.

The E45 in Sweden is mostly a standard road. Between Karesuando and Torsby (1370 km) the road is usually 6–8 meters wide, and goes mostly through sparsely populated forests, with occasional villages and only two cities above 10,000 people, Östersund and Mora. The E45 is a motorway for 6 km together with the E18 south of Grums. Between Säffle and Trollhättan several parts of it is 2+1 road with a middle barrier, in total around 40 km. Between Trollhättan and Surte there is a 52 km long motorway, finished in 2012. Between Surte and Gothenburg there is a 17 km road designed equivalently to a motorway. The exception is that there are two gaps in the Trollhättan–Surte motorway and there are two traffic lights along the Surte–Gothenburg road. The speed limit is usually 100 km/h north of Mora and usually 90 km/h south thereof. There are 27 road crossings or intersections where the Swedish E45 does not follow the straight direction. There are 26 level crossings with railways. There are 19 motorway exits and 29 other motorway-like exits.

The ferry between Gothenburg and Frederikshavn runs about six times a day and takes 3½ hours.

## Denmark

In Denmark the E45 is a motorway (speed limit 110 to 130 km/h or 70 to 80 mph) from the south of Frederikshavn along the east coast of Jutland to the Denmark–Germany border. The E45 has no other national number. It connects to the E39 and E20 motorways.

In 1992 it was renamed from E3 (which before 1985 ended in Lisbon, Portugal) and until 2006, with the extension in Sweden, the northern endpoint was Frederikshavn.

The total length in Denmark is 357 km.

### Exits in Denmark

| Name/Location | # | Destinations | Notes |
| - | - | - | - |
| Sæby N | 12 | Sekundærrute 180 Sæby, Vangen | |
| Rest area Øksenhede | | | |
| Sæby S | 13 | Sekundærrute 180 Sekundærrute 541 Sæby, Syvsten, to Sekundærrute 553 | |
| Flauenskjold | 14 | Sekundærrute 589 Flauenskjold, Dybvad, Voerså | |
| Jyske Ås | 15 | Klokkerholm | |
| Hjallerup N | 16 | Sekundærrute 559 Hjallerup, Asaa, Dronninglund, to Sekundærrute 180 | |
| Rest area Hjallerup Enge | | | Gas station on the east-side |
| Lyngdrup | 17 | Sekundærrute 180 Hjallerup, Grindsted | |
| Vodskov N | 18 | Vodskov, Langholt, to Sekundærrute 180 | |
| Vodskov | 19 | Vodskov, Hals | |
| Bouet | 20 | Nørresundby, to E39 Primærrute 11 Primærrute 55 Sekundærrute 180 | |
| Vendsyssel | | E39 Primærrute 11 Brønderslev, Hjørring, Hirtshals, Thisted, to Primærrute 55 Sekundærrute 180 | Northbound exit, southbound entrance |
| Nørresundby N | 21 | Nørresundby, Lindholm Aalborg Airport, to Sekundærrute 180 | |
| Nørresundby C | 22 | Sekundærrute 180 Nørresundby | Northbound exit, southbound entrance |
| Limfjordstunnelen | | | 582 metres (1,909 ft) length. Max height 4,3m |
| Aalborg N | 23 | Aalborg, Rørdal | Southbound exit, northbound entrance |
| Ø. Uttrup Vej | 24 | Aalborg, Rørdal | |
| Humlebakken | 25 | Vejgaard, Aalborg Ø | Southbound exit, northbound entrance |
| Th. Sauers Vej | 26 | Sekundærrute 507 Sekundærrute 595 Aalborg | |
| Aalborg C | 27 | Aalborg | Northbound exit, southbound entrance |
| Aalborg S | 28 | Sekundærrute 187 Aalborg, Skalborg | |
| Rest area Dall/Limfjorden | | | Restaurant on the west-side |
| Svenstrup | 29 | Sekundærrute 180 Svenstrup, Ellidshøj | |
| Støvring N | 30 | Støvring | |
| Støvring S | 31 | Sekundærrute 519 Støvring, Sørup | |
| Service area Himmerland | | | |
| Sønderup | 32 | Primærrute 13 Viborg, Aars | Southbound exit, northbound entrance |
| Haverslev | 33 | Sekundærrute 535 Haverslev, Arden | |
| Rest area Senhøj | | | |
| Hobro N | 34 | Primærrute 29 Sekundærrute 541 Hobro | |
| Hobro V | 35 | Sekundærrute 579 Hobro | |
| Onsild | 36 | Sekundærrute 517 Sekundærrute 555 Onsild, Viborg, Mariager | |
| Handest | 37 | Sekundærrute 180 Handest, Hobro | |
| Rest area Glenshøj | | | |
| Purhus | 38 | Purhus, Fårup | |
| Randers N | 39 | Sekundærrute 180 Sekundærrute 507 Randers, Hadsund | |
| Randers C | 40 | Primærrute 16 Randers, Viborg | |
| Rest area Gudenå | | | |
| Randers S | 42 | Primærrute 46 Randers | |
| Sønder Borup | 43 | Primærrute 16 Primærrute 21 Sekundærrute 180 Sekundærrute 511 Grenaa, Ebeltoft, Sønder Borup, Hadsten, Sjællands Odde | |
| Hadsten | 44 | Sekundærrute 587 Hadsten, Ebeltoft, Grenaa Aarhus Airport | |
| Århus Nord | | Primærrute 15 Århus N, Grenaa, Ebeltoft, Skejby, Sjællands Odde | |
| Århus N | 46 | Sekundærrute 505 Hinnerup, Lisbjerg | |
| Tilst | 47 | Primærrute 26 Tilst, Viborg | |
| Tilst | | Primærrute 26 Viborg (planned) | |
| Rest area Pedersminde/Blankhøj | | | |
| Århus Vest | | Primærrute 15 Århus, Silkeborg, Herning | |
| Århus S | 49 | Århus, Hasselager Sjællands Odde | Southbound exit, northbound entrance |
| Hørning | 50 | Hørning, Hasselager | Southbound exit, northbound entrance |
| Århus Syd | | Sekundærrute 501 Hasselager, Hørning, Viby J, Sjællands Odde | Northbound exit, southbound entrance |
| Skanderborg N | 51 | Sekundærrute 511 Skanderborg, Stilling | |
| Rest area Fuglsang | | | |
| Skanderborg V | 52 | Sekundærrute 511 Skanderborg, Ry, Odder | |
| Skanderborg S | 53 | Sekundærrute 409 Skanderborg, Østbirk, Nørre Snede | Southbound exit, northbound entrance |
| Ejer Bavnehøj | 54 | Ejer Bavnehøj | |
| Horsens N | 55 | Sekundærrute 461 Horsens, Østbirk | |
| Horsens V | 56 | Primærrute 52 Horsens, Juelsminde, Silkeborg | |
| Horsens C | 56b | Horsens, Hatting | |
| Horsens S | 57 | Primærrute 30 Sekundærrute 451 Horsens, Odder, Billund Billund Airport | |
| Rest area Merring/Nørremark | | | |
| Hedensted | 58 | Hedensted, Løsning | |
| Hornstrup | 59 | Primærrute 23 Hornstrup, Vejle N | |
| Vejle | | Primærrute 18 Primærrute 13 Herning, Viborg | |
| Vejle N | 60 | Sekundærrute 170 Vejle, Juelsminde | |
| Vejle C | 61a | Primærrute 28 Vejle, Fredericia, Billund | |
| Vejle S | 61b | | |
| Service area Skærup | | | |
| Skærup | | E20 Odense | Southbound exit, northbound entrance |
| Kolding | | E20 Odense | Northbound exit, southbound entrance. Concurrency with E20 begins |
| Kolding Ø | 62 | Sekundærrute 170 Sekundærrute 176 Kolding, Billund Billund Airport | |
| Bramdrupdam | 63 | Bramdrupdam | |
| Kolding Vest | 64 | E20 Kolding, Varde, Esbjerg | Concurrency with E20 ends |
| Rest area Hylkedal | | | |
| Kolding S | 65a | Primærrute 25 Kolding, Vamdrup, Tønder | |
| Vonsild | 65b | Vonsild |
| Christiansfeld | 66 | Christiansfeld | |
| Haderslev N | 67 | Haderslev | |
| Vojens | 68 | Primærrute 47 Vojens, Ribe, Haderslev Vojens Airport | |
| Service area Ustrup | | | |
| Haderslev S | 69 | Sekundærrute 435 Haderslev, Tønder | |
| Rest area Øster Løgum | | | |
| Aabenraa N | 70 | Primærrute 24 Aabenraa, Rødekro, Ribe | |
| Rest area Årslev | | | Restaurant on east-side |
| Aabenraa | 71 | Primærrute 41 Aabenraa | Southbound exit, northbound entrance |
| Aabenraa S | 72 | Primærrute 42 Aabenraa, Tinglev | |
| Kliplev | | Primærrute 8 Sønderborg, Fynshav | |
| Kliplev | 73 | Primærrute 8 Sekundærrute 481 Kliplev, Tønder, Gråsten, Tinglev, Ribe | |
| Rest area Oksekær | | | |
| Kruså | 74 | Kruså, Flensburg | Southbound exit, northbound entrance |
| Bov | 75 | Sekundærrute 401 Bov, Tønder, Padborg, Kruså, Egernsund | |
| Padborg | 76 | Padborg, Frøslev | Southbound exit, northbound entrance |
| Service area Frøslev | | | |
| Padborg | 76 | Padborg, Frøslev | Northbound exit, southbound entrance |

## Germany

The E45 follows:

* A7, Danish border–Würzburg
* A3, Würzburg–Nuremberg
* A9, Nuremberg–Munich
* A99, Munich Beltway
* A8, Munich–Rosenheim
* A93, Rosenheim–Austrian border

The length in Germany is 1022 km.

Between Nuremberg and Verona, Italy the E45 corresponds with the route of the old imperial road, the Via Imperii, though the Autobahns are newer roads.

## Austria

The E45 follows:

* Inn Valley Autobahn A12, German border–Innsbruck
* Brenner Autobahn A13, Innsbruck–Italian border (at Brenner Pass)

The length in Austria is 109 km.

## Italy

Owing to the greater recognition of motorways and nationally or locally numbered major roads in Italy, in colloquial usage "E45" often refers to the Cesena-Orte segment, possibly further expanded to include the Ravenna-Cesena section of the SS3bis (formally part of the E55, and forming together the Strada di Grande Comunicazione Ravenna-Orte) and/or the Orte-Rome segment.

## Route

### Norway

* E45: Alta – Kautokeino – Norway/ Finland border

### Finland

* Kt 93: Norway/ Finland border – Hetta – Palojoensuu
* Vt 21 / E8: Palojoensuu – Kaaresuvanto
* St 959: Kaaresuvanto – Finland/ Sweden border

### Sweden

* E45: Karesuando – Svappavaara (Start of Concurrency with E10) – Gällivare (End of Concurrency with E10) – Arvidsjaur – Storuman (Start of Concurrency with E12) – Stensele (End of Concurrency with E12) – Håxås – Östersund (Start of Concurrency with E14) – Brunflo (End of Concurrency with E14) – Sveg – Mora – Malung (Start of Concurrency with E16) – Stöllet – Önneby – Torsby (End of Concurrency with E16) – Vålberg – Åmål – Trollhättan – Gothenburg
* Gothenburg – Fredrikshavn

### Denmark

* E45: Fredrikshavn – Aalborg – Randers – Aarhus – Horsens – Vejle – Kolding – Haderslev – Aabenraa – / border

### Germany

* A 7: / border – Flensburg – Neumünster – Hamburg – Hanover – Hildesheim - Göttingen – Kassel – Fulda – Würzburg
* A 3: Würzburg – Nuremberg
* A 9: Nuremberg – Ingolstadt – Munich
* A 99: Munich
* A 8: Munich – Rosenheim
* A 93: Rosenheim – / border

### Austria

* A 12: / border – Kufstein – Wörgl (Start of Concurrency with E60) – Wiesing – Innsbruck (End of Concurrency with E60)
* A 13: Innsbruck – Matrei am Brenner – / border

### Italy

* A 22: / border – Brennero – Vipiteno – Bolzano – Trento – Rovereto – Verona – Mantua – Modena (Start of Concurrency with E35)
* A 1: Modena – La Stanga (End of Concurrency with E35)
* A 14: La Stanga – Bologna – Cesena
* SS 3bis: Cesena – San Piero in Bagno – Sansepolcro – Città di Castello - Umbertide – Perugia – Todi – Terni
* SS 675: Terni – Narni – Orte
* A 1: Orte – Nazzano – Monterotondo – Frosinone – Caserta – Afragola – Casalnuovo di Napoli – Casoria – Naples
* A 3: Naples – Pompeii – Salerno
* A 2: Salerno – Battipaglia – Cosenza – Vibo Valentia – Villa San Giovanni
* Villa San Giovanni – Messina
* A 18: Messina – Taormina – Giarre – Catania
* RA 15: Catania
* A CT-SR (Autostrada Catania-Siracusa): Catania – Mungina – Augusta
* SS 114: Augusta – Melilli – Syracuse
* A 18: Syracuse – Noto – Rosolini
* SS 115 – Rosolini – Modica – Ragusa – Comiso – Gela
