is a short
autobahn
The (; German plural ) is the federal controlled-access highway system in Germany. The official German term is (abbreviated ''BAB''), which translates as 'federal motorway'. The literal meaning of the word is 'Federal Auto(mobile) Track' ...
in
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
. The motorway crosses the
Rhine
), Surselva, Graubünden, Switzerland
, source1_coordinates=
, source1_elevation =
, source2 = Rein Posteriur/Hinterrhein
, source2_location = Paradies Glacier, Graubünden, Switzerland
, source2_coordinates=
, so ...
River, connecting the cities of
Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden () is a city in central western Germany and the capital of the state of Hesse. , it had 290,955 inhabitants, plus approximately 21,000 United States citizens (mostly associated with the United States Army). The Wiesbaden urban area ...
and
Mainz
Mainz () is the capital and largest city of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
Mainz is on the left bank of the Rhine, opposite to the place that the Main joins the Rhine. Downstream of the confluence, the Rhine flows to the north-west, with Ma ...
, the capital cities of the
German states of
Hesse
Hesse (, , ) or Hessia (, ; german: Hessen ), officially the State of Hessen (german: links=no, Land Hessen), is a state in Germany. Its capital city is Wiesbaden, and the largest urban area is Frankfurt. Two other major historic cities are Dar ...
and
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate ( , ; german: link=no, Rheinland-Pfalz ; lb, Rheinland-Pfalz ; pfl, Rhoilond-Palz) is a western state of Germany. It covers and has about 4.05 million residents. It is the ninth largest and sixth most populous of the ...
, respectively. It is one of two autobahns in Germany that connect two neighboring state capitals in only one exit.
However short the A 643 may be, it is a vital link within the
Frankfurt Rhine-Main Region, being only one of three routes across the Rhine in the region. It is an important connection between
Autobahn 66 on the north bank of the Rhine and
A 60 south of Mainz.
History
The A 643 was built in 1966, together with the Mainz Ring Road, the A 60. The original plan for the highway included a section from Wiesbaden to
Taunusstein
Taunusstein () is the biggest town in the Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Darmstadt in Hessen, Germany. It has 30,068 inhabitants (2020).
Geography
Location
Taunusstein lies roughly 10 km northwest of Wiesbaden and abo ...
-Neuhof, replacing a section of Bundesstraße 417. This project was never realized.
Route
The A 643 begins at the Dotzheim Interchange in Wiesbaden as a continuation of
Schiersteiner Straße (Bundesstraße 262) to and from the city center (alternatively, southbound traffic on Schiersteiner Straße can continue on Saarstraße/''
Kreisstraße
A Kreisstraße (literally: "district road" or "county road") is a class of road in Germany. It carries traffic between the towns and villages within a '' Kreis'' or district or between two neighbouring districts. In importance, the ''Kreisstraße ...
'' 645 to
Schierstein
Schierstein is a southwestern borough of Wiesbaden, capital of state of Hesse, Germany. First mentioned in historical records in 860, Schierstein was incorporated into Wiesbaden in 1926. Today the borough has about 10,000 residents. Situated on the ...
). This interchange also includes an exit ramp to Erich-Ollenhauser Straße (K 655), which leads northwest to
Wiesbaden-Dotzheim and southeast to
Biebrich.
The A 643 soon intersects with the A 66 at Schiersteiner Kreuz. It crosses the border with Rhineland-Palatinate on the Rhine with the
Schierstein Bridge
The Schierstein Bridge (German: ''Schiersteiner Brücke'') is long, four-lane highway bridge in Germany. It carries Bundesautobahn 643 over the Rhine River between Mainz-Mombach, Rhineland-Palatinate and Wiesbaden-Schierstein, Hesse (Rhine kilome ...
. It then leads to the Hochstraße Lenneberg in the Mainz district of
Mombach, through the
Mainz Sand Dunes The Mainz Sand Dunes (german: Großer Sand) are a small geological and botanical supra-region and important nature preserve in Mainz, Germany. Within this protected area rare plants and animals can be found. Some of the species represented here, suc ...
nature reserve, and ends at the Mainz
Dreieck in the A 60.
Exit list
Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden () is a city in central western Germany and the capital of the state of Hesse. , it had 290,955 inhabitants, plus approximately 21,000 United States citizens (mostly associated with the United States Army). The Wiesbaden urban area ...
External links
643
Transport in Mainz
Transport in Wiesbaden
{{Germany-road-stub