Freeways Rösti presents the Federal Council's arguments for freeway expansion

The Swiss highway network, which is chronically overloaded at critical points, is to be expanded at a cost of 4.9 billion Swiss francs, thus freeing towns and villages from traffic jams. These are the Federal Council's arguments for voting yes to the highway expansion.

The vote will take place on November 24. Six projects are at stake - five in German-speaking Switzerland and one on Lake Geneva. Transport Minister Albert Rösti explained to the media in Bern on Thursday why the Federal Council believes the expansion projects are necessary.

"The alternative traffic belongs back on the highway. In the affected regions, people should be able to cross the road safely, cycle and go to school," Rösti was quoted as saying in a communiqué. People who drive to work should be able to reach their place of work on time.

An alliance led by the Swiss Transport Club and the Umverkehr organization is fighting the bill with a referendum. The proponents argue that mobility requires infrastructure on the roads and railways.

SDA