Parliament wants more six-lane highways
Published: Tuesday, Dec 19th 2023, 12:50
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Parliament wants to widen 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 proposal comes from Bernese SVP National Councillor Erich Hess and is at least partially open to discussion: In mid-September, Parliament decided that the A1 between Le Vengeron GE and Nyon VD should be widened to six lanes, provided the Federal Council approves the general project for this expansion this year.
It is also already clear that the A1 between Bern-Wankdorf and Schönbühl BE is to be widened from the current six to eight lanes and to six lanes between Schönbühl and Kirchberg BE. These projects are part of the 2023 expansion phase for the motorways.
Environmental organizations began collecting referendum signatures shortly after these decisions were made. The people are likely to have the final say. Minority spokesperson Mathias Zopfi (Greens/GL) pointed out in the Council of States that the highway expansion would lead to more traffic.
Commission spokesman Thierry Burkart (FDP/AG) took up this cause and promoted the motion. Hess justified his motion by stating that the volume of traffic on the 410-kilometre A1 is much greater today than it used to be. This highway is now chronically overloaded.
The National Council approved the motion at the beginning of September by 94 votes to 87 with 4 abstentions. The Council of States did so much more clearly with 31 votes to 12. Transport Minister Albert Rösti spoke of a signal for the future. Parliament and the people would then decide on individual expansion projects.
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