[CH] Swiss highways and motorways

[ChrisZwolle]

Originally Posted by Energy2003

with the actual currency the toll sticker is just 25Euros.

It´s a fair over for 1 years of using highways

Yeah, it's actually kind of cheap. The Dutch proposed toll system would cost the average Randstad motorway user hundreds to even up to a thousand euro's annually.

[lpioe]

Well 25€ for one year is really cheap. The problem is that you can't buy a sticker for a week or 10 days like for example in Austria. Even if you only cross Switzerland on your way to Italy you have to pay for a whole year.

[ChrisZwolle]

Yeah that's true, but then again, who cares about € 25 on vacation?

[Energy2003]

when you are in swiss don´t care about the money ... eat something at any raststation and you have 40 chf away

but so 2 months in austria are more expensive than one year in switzerland

[pmaciej7]

Pictures near Zurich (except the first one) were shot on part of A1, between two green dots.

[CborG]

I can see some sort of emergency lane on the 4th pic, is that road planned to become a motorway or 2x2 road?

[pmaciej7]

This is N16 road between Wattwil and Wil. By looking at the map and knowing, that first three pictures were taken on Wattwil bypass, i don't think it will be upgraded to higher standards than S 1x2.

[pmaciej7]

Some pictures from Basel.


Kaiser Augst - roman temple ruins.


A2 (Zurich)/A3(Bern) interchange.





And now moving from Basel to german border

[Verso]

Great pics, I love the motorway through Basel (except in rush hours ).

Originally Posted by pmaciej7

Where on earth were these two photos shot?

[pmaciej7]

This is A1/A4 motorway, and there are 2 following pictures.
1. I drive 4 lane motorway and at the exit 65, this lanes split - 2 to the left, 2 to the right.
2. Drivers entering at this exit move upside (on bridge you can see) and join two left lanes.
3. 2 left lanes (with drivers that entered) merge with 2 right lanes.
4. I drive 4 lane motorway again.
5. lanes split again - 2 left to the city and two right to the airport and other directions.

Some pictures:





More detailed pictures.
First signpost.










Second signpost.

[Verso]

Thank you for the detailed discription! Wow, so many times I've driven here and haven't noticed it yet!

[Jeroen669]

Why do the Swiss use the addition '-city' on their signage, instead of 'Zentrum' 'Centre' or something like that? (in one of their own languages)

[ChrisZwolle]

Because Zürich is a financial center perhaps?

[Verso]

I've only seen it in Zürich, elsewhere it's "Zentrum".

In the cosmopolitan Germany it's "Stadtmitte".

[sämelihülz]

Originally Posted by Chriszwolle

Because Zürich is a financial center perhaps?

no, in basel there are also some destination boards with " Basel-city", but don't ask me why

[lpioe]

Some pics of the u/c western bypass of Zürich by Marcel Monterie.
Interestingly, the signs are already installed although the bypass won't be open until next year.

[ChrisZwolle]

Simplon Pass 2.008m / 6.588 ft

The Simplon Pass is one of the major passes in Switzerland, capable of handling quite a few traffic, with some intersections even grade-separated. It connects the Swiss Canton of Wallis/Valais with the region of Domodossola in Italy. It gives an alternative route from Genève/Bern to Milano.

Photo's from west to east order, Swiss Road no. 9 and Italian Road SS33

[Verso]

Originally Posted by Chriszwolle

It gives an alternative route from Genève to Milano.

It was actually the main route when the Mont Blanc Tunnel was closed. That Italian expressway is the worst expressway I've ever driven. It's interesting that the Simplon Pass isn't the border between Switzerland and Italy.

[radi6404]

The lanes somehow look narrow, why that? I even think they are dangerously narrow, I would be affraid to drive on such narrow motorways.

[GENIUS LOCI]

Originally Posted by Verso

It was actually the main route when the Mont Blanc Tunnel was closed.

Actually I prefere to go by Grand St. Bernard tunnel (I did it this Easter too, but with chains for snow )

Anyway if you don't want to drive on Simplon pass (often closed in winther) there is a shuttle train wich carries vehicles between Brig (CH) and Iselle de Trasquera (I -despite the name) by a train tunnel built about 100 years ago (the longest train tunnel till they open the Gothard base tunnel)
Lovely experience I suggest you

That Italian expressway is the worst expressway I've ever driven.

Many years since last time I've been there, but I don't remember Domodossola-Simplon expressway that bad... surely it is an old expressway, while Domodossola-Sesto Calende highway (on Western coast of Lago Maggiore) is quite new and good for sure