Coalition opposes “damaging” expansion of the A1 at Lake Geneva
Published: Wednesday, Aug 14th 2024, 15:40
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A committee of environmental and transport associations has stated that the expansion of the freeways, which will be put to the vote on November 24, is harmful. It points in particular to the Nyon VD-Vengeron GE section. The project is an ecologically undesirable development and will lead to an increase in traffic, it said in a statement.
"It is a reality that has been proven countless times worldwide by concrete experience and dozens of studies: widening roads does not solve traffic jams," said Thibault Schneeberger from the Umverkehr association, who was quoted in the communiqué. Every increase in the capacity of a road leads to so-called "induced" traffic, which quickly leads to new congestion.
The committee formed to oppose the highway expansion consists of various nature conservation and transport associations such as the Swiss Transport Club (VCS) and the WWF.
The National Council and Council of States had approved six projects with a total cost of CHF 5.3 billion in the 2023 expansion phase. The A1 on Lake Geneva between Le Vengeron GE and Nyon VD is to be widened to six lanes.
In addition, extensions to the A1 between Bern-Wankdorf and Schönbühl BE and between Schönbühl and Kirchberg BE were planned. The package also included a third tube of the Rosenberg tunnel near St. Gallen, a second tube of the Fäsenstaub tunnel near Schaffhausen and a Rhine tunnel Bisrfelden BL-Kleinhüningen BS.
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