Next spring on the A1: The dam bridge will return

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It was supposed to prevent traffic jams, but it actually resulted in one: the mobile highway construction bridge that was used for the first time by the federal government in 2022. After there had been problems on the A1 for three months, the responsible Federal Road Service (Astra) canceled the use of its world first in the summer of last year.

Now the traffic jam bridge should come back. It is assumed that the bridge will be ready for its next use at the start of the next construction season in spring 2024, Astra spokesperson Thomas Rohrbach told the “Tages-Anzeiger”.

First, traffic came to a standstill

With the 7.3 meter wide and 4.32 meter high highway bridge, construction works are no longer bypassed, but run over. The idea behind the technology monster: While the construction workers toil below, traffic rolls above their heads.

But instead of reducing it, the “Astra Bridge” extended the traffic jam during its first use on the A1 between Luterbach SO and Egerkingen SO: rush hour traffic collapsed in April 2022 and nothing moved in the direction of Bern for hours. . And evasive traffic brought cantonal and municipal roads to a standstill.

One problem was that trucks in particular had to brake sharply to drive onto the bridge. On the bridge you must be able to drive at a speed of 60 km/h. But driver Werner B.*, driver of a semi-trailer from Thurgau with a load of groceries, told Blick at the time: “If I had driven it at the permitted speed of 60 km/h, the load would have come loose. . No matter how well I solved everything. I brake all the way there. I didn’t understand what that was for.”

Back in use on the A1

After three months, the Astra canceled the bridge operation: Since the traffic flow was not developing as desired, it was decided to make improvements to the ramps of the construction site bridge, it was said at the time. The emphasis was mainly on the driving characteristics. The canton of Solothurn and the commercial vehicle association Astag were also involved in the improvements.

Now it is almost time for the next use of the traffic jam bridge. The location will most likely be the A1 near Luterbach again, but in the opposite direction. (sf)

*Name known

Source:Blick