Proposal for expansion of the A1 accepted: Chamber wants more six-lane highway routes

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Parliament wants to expand the A1 between Bern and Zurich and between Lausanne and Geneva to at least six lanes. After the National Council, the Council of States also adopted a motion with this demand on Tuesday.

The initiative comes from Bern SVP National Councilor Erich Hess and at least partially opens the door: in mid-September, Parliament decided that the A1 between Le Vengeron GE and Nyon VD should be expanded to six lanes, provided that the Federal Council receives general approval approves. project for this expansion was approved this year.

It is also clear that the A1 between Bern-Wankdorf and Schönbühl BE will be expanded from six to eight lanes and between Schönbühl and Kirchberg BE to six lanes. These projects are part of the expansion step of the national highways in 2023.

Referendum against highway expansion

Environmental organizations began collecting signatures for referendums shortly after these decisions. The people must have the final say on this. Minority spokesperson Mathias Zopfi (Greens/GL) pointed out to the Council of States that the expansion of the highway would lead to more traffic.

Commission spokesperson Thierry Burkart (FDP/AG) denied this and promoted the initiative. Hess justified his motion by stating that the traffic intensity on the 410 kilometer long A1 is now much greater than before. This highway is now chronically congested.

The National Council approved the motion in early September with 94 votes in favor, 87 votes against and 4 abstentions. The Council of States did this much more clearly with 31 votes against 12. Minister of Transport Albert Rösti spoke about a signal for the future. Parliament and the people would then decide on individual expansion projects. (SDA)

Source:Blick