Loading routes in Google Maps, to check for road blocks

[FrankB]

In the past years I have had my share of road blocks. On average it will happen 3 times a day that a road is completely blocked, and you have to find a detour. My experience is from The Netherlands and Germany, but what I read in this forum, that it is a common problem.

Enabling traffic on the Satnav (like the XT) is not a good option. The information provided is not accurate/up to date. Also there are lots of reports, that the satnav produces weird results when you enable Traffic.

I heard that the traffic information provided in Google Maps is ‘much better’. So I looked for a way to get my routes in Google Maps and check for road blocks. I used this method now for in total about 10 days of driving, around 3000 kms, and only in 1 (ONE) occasion I had a road block that google maps did not report. So not 100 %, but a lot better!

Before you open the detailed pdf with the screenshots, this is the general idea:
Load your route, saved as .KML, in Google Maps. In Google Maps it is called a MAP, not a route or track. It has to be done in a browser in desktop mode. Once you have loaded your map, you can enable traffic, also in the app.
Usefull:
Up to date traffic info. Good maps. Quickly see the route, discuss options with fellow drivers. Search for places near you.

Less usefull:
You can not use Google Maps to navigate this route, nor does it give you automated warnings. You have to move the map manually following the magenta line and look for road blocks yourself!

Please give it a try first, before commenting. Good luck.

Update 23 Oct. 2022: It is possible to upload GPX files in stead of the KML format. But routes have to be converted to tracks first else you will only get straight lines.

Update 13 Aug. 2025: Updated screenshots.

Loading routes in Google Maps.pdf

(1.41 MiB) Downloaded 147 times

[lather]

I just found your road block how to and it is a great tool! I checked a route I have planned for next month and discovered a section of it is closed! Fortunately it says it will be re-opened on May 31. I will check it again before I leave and have an alternate ready in case it does not reopen as schediled. Thanks for posting this!

[tombarrington]

Just found this myself after hitting two unexpected road closures on a 10 day trip. I've now added a planning step to check for closures and this makes it easy to do!

[FrankB]

@tombarrington

Glad you like it Tom. We (my son and I) returned last Sunday from a 5 day trip of about 1900 kms to Germany/Black Forest. 4 out of 5 days needed rework on the original planned trip, because of road blocks. But it payed off. We had no unexpected closures at all.

Also useful, I think, is looking at the trip on your mobile phone in Google maps, in the morning before you set off. (While having breakfast) You can see just how long the closed segment is, and think about a detour before you set off.

I agree it is a bit fiddley with my fat fingers on a small screen, but better than nothing.

[tombarrington]

I find that, even on a PC, you really have to zoom in on the route in order to see the closure icons. I might still have missed them if I didn't happen upon your solution.

Edit: I've also experienced that a closure icon may just be referring to the main road or lane and that traffic can still pass by alternately sharing the opposing lane. This may show as dashed lines when zooming in closely.