The A45 was the most beautiful highway in Germany. But almost 50 years after its construction, the A45 has become the country's biggest problem child. For the people of Sauerland and Siegerland, the A45 was a road of hope - the starting signal for the economic region of South Westphalia. A place of longing and a destination for drives. Since December 2, 2021, 3 p.m., nothing in Lüdenscheid has been the same. The big problem: there is no hope of improvement in the short term. Since spring 2022, it has been clear that the highway closure will last for years.