Revolutionary ASTRA bridge allows Swiss drivers to avoid detour during highway repairs

Switzerland has introduced a new modular mobile overpass design called the ASTRA bridge, which allows vehicles to drive directly above the highway section undergoing repair instead of having to take a detour. This innovative solution was developed by the Swiss Federal Road Agency and tested on the Swiss A1 motorway section in 2022.

The ASTRA bridge consists of sections that are transported to the repair site on trucks and assembled to create an overpass that spans the length of the repair area. Up and down ramps at both ends of the overpass allow vehicles to continue through the road seamlessly. Drivers are required to slow down to 60 km/h when crossing the overpass but do not need to merge into one lane or wait to pass.

The overpass provides road workers with a safe space to carry out repairs without the risk of being hit by passing vehicles or exposure to weather elements. They can work during the day because heavy traffic is not disrupted during the repair process. Construction vehicles operate in a transport lane next to the overpass, which may also serve as a driving lane on the road, depending on circumstances.

After completing repairs on a section of the highway,