Freeways National highway expansion rejected by the people according to projection

The electorate rejects the expansion of six Swiss highway sections. This is shown by the projection of the research institute gfs.bern on behalf of SRG regarding the federal decree on the 2023 expansion phase of the motorways.

According to the study, 52% of voters said no to the expansion of five freeway sections in German-speaking Switzerland and one section in French-speaking Switzerland for a total of CHF 4.9 billion. However, the margin of error is plus or minus three percentage points.

According to the projection, the expansion of the A1 between Bern-Wankdorf and Schönbühl BE to eight lanes and between Schönbühl and Kirchberg BE to six lanes cannot be realized.

In western Switzerland, the A1 between Le Vengeron GE and Nyon VD was to be widened to six lanes. There were also plans to build a third tube of the Rosenberg Tunnel on the A1 near St. Gallen, and in Schaffhausen the Fäsenstaub Tunnel on the A4 was to be given a second tube.

Finally, in the Basel area, the federal government wanted to relieve through traffic on the A2 east bypass with a new Rhine tunnel between Birsfelden BL and Kleinhüningen.

Contradictory to climate protection for opponents

The result of the vote represents a success for an alliance led by the Swiss Transport Club (VCS) and the Umverkehr organization. They brought about a referendum against the parliamentary resolution on the expansion projects. The SP, Greens, GLP and environmental and nature conservation organizations recommended a "no" to the bill.

After the Yes to the Climate Protection Act in June 2023, opponents argued that the expansion of the freeways should be halted. The 2023 motorway expansion phase is "excessive, outdated and overpriced" and runs counter to the legally enshrined reduction targets for exhaust emissions.

Parliament approved the 2023 expansion phase of the motorways just over a year ago. The Federal Council also supported it, as did the SVP, the FDP, the Center Party and associations such as the business umbrella organization Economiesuisse, the commercial vehicle association Astag and the Touring Club Switzerland.

The supporters said that the volume of traffic on the national road network had increased more than fivefold in the past sixty years. Particularly busy stretches of highway are regularly overloaded. The expansion of the freeways avoids traffic diversions through villages and towns.

Latest survey results confirmed

The No vote confirms the survey results presented on November 13. According to a survey conducted for SRG at the beginning of November, 47% of voters wanted to accept the highway expansion projects, while 51% said no.

However, according to a second survey conducted for "20 Minuten" and Tamedia, those in favor and those against were roughly balanced. A first survey conducted at the beginning of October had shown approval rates of 51 and 56 percent respectively for the national roads bill.

SDA