The last exit on the Öresund motorway from Denmark to Sweden, exit 16, is closed due to roadworks until the end of November. This means that anyone wanting to stay in Denmark needs to leave the motorway at the earlier exit, exit 17, if they want to avoid a detour to Sweden on their way to work.
At least 50 motorists made this mistake on Monday, according to Swedish newspaper Sydsvenskan, leading to a number of them taking drastic measures to avoid ending up in Sweden.
"They started to reverse and make U-turns and lots of other things out on the motorway, and that has caused a lot of dangerous situations on the road out there," Jesper Frandsen, from the Danish police, told newswire Ritzau.
"The problem is at exit 17, Lufthavn V," he said. "If you've driven that route for many years, you're used to having to turn off at the last exit, which is exit 16. But that's closed, so you can't," he said.
"As soon as you go past exit 17 you're on your way to Sweden and heading for the tunnel."
The roadworks are related to works to extend rail station platforms at Copenhagen Airport. Two platforms and a new connection from Terminal 3 are under construction, with the work expected to be completed next year.
The station is being expanded because traffic is expected to increase once the Femern Belt tunnel between Denmark and Germany is complete in 2029.
If you accidentally miss the turnoff at exit 17 and find yourself on the way to Sweden, there's no need to attempt a U-turn on the motorway in an effort to avoid the high toll on the bridge. Anyone making this mistake will be allowed to turn for free once they reach Sweden, without having to pay to cross the barrier.
Drivers who aren't heading for the airport have been advised to turn off the motorway at exit 18, Tårnby, or exit 19, Ørestad.
Sliproads onto the motorway are not affected by the works. Exits from the motorway on the Swedish side heading towards Denmark are also unaffected.
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