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The Autobahn is the national freeway system of Austria.
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History
The first Autobahn in Austria was the A1 West Autobahn from Salzburg to Vienna. Building started on order of Adolf Hitler during World War II as part of the Reichsautobahn system, however only 3 km had been completed by 1945.
Autobahn system
Austria has 17 Autobahnen with a total length of 1,699 km, built and maintained by the ASFINAG Company held by the Republic. Each route bears a number as well as an official name with local reference not displayed on road signs. The system is going to be expanded; one Autobahn is currently under construction, and two more are planned. Considering Austria's relatively low population density and its location in the centre of the continent, the motorway density per capita is the highest in Europe.
- A1 West Autobahn from Vienna to Wals-Siezenheim and the German Autobahn A8
- A2 Süd Autobahn from Vienna and the A23 to Arnoldstein and the Italian Autostrada A23
- A3 Südost Autobahn from Guntramsdorf and the A2 to Wulkaprodersdorf near Eisenstadt
- A4 Ost Autobahn from Vienna to Nickelsdorf and the Hungarian Motorway M1
- A5 Nord Autobahn: - under construction - from Vienna to Drasenhofen and the Czech Expressway R52
- A6 Nordost Autobahn from Bruckneudorf and the A4 to Kittsee and the Slovakian Motorway D4
- A7 Mühlkreis Autobahn from Linz and the A1 to Unterweitersdorf and the A9
- A8 Innkreis Autobahn from Sattledt, the A1 and the A9 to Suben and the German Autobahn A3
- A9 Pyhrn Autobahn from Sattledt, the A1 and the A8 to Spielfeld and the Slovenian A1 highway
- A10 Tauern Autobahn from Salzburg and the A1 to Villach, the A2 and the A11
- A11 Karawanken Autobahn from Villach, the A2 and the A10 to the Karawanken Tunnel and the Slovenian Motorway A2
- A12 Inntal Autobahn from Kufstein and the German Autobahn A 93 to Landeck
- A13 Brenner Autobahn from Innsbruck and the A12 to the Brenner Pass and the Italian Autostrada A 22
- A14 Rheintal/Walgau Autobahn from Hörbranz and the German Autobahn 96 to Bürs
- A21 Wiener Außenring Autobahn from Altlengbach and the A1 to Vösendorf and the A2
- A22 Donauufer Autobahn from Vienna and the A23 to Stockerau
- A23 Südosttangente, Vienna
- A24 Autobahn Verbindungsspange Rothneusiedl, Vienna
- A25 Welser Autobahn from Ansfelden and the A1 to Wels and the A8
- A26 Linzer Autobahn, Linz
Tolls
Use of the Autobahn system requires the purchase of a vignette (toll sticker) for passenger cars or a GO-Box (electronic toll system) for trucks and buses. On routes which are more costly to maintain, mostly mountainous routes with tunnels, an additional toll is required which is collected at time of use via toll plazas.
Vignettes ("Pickerl") are available in varying lengths of validity (10 days, 2 months or a year). A vignette valid for a year currently costs 72.60 EUR. Since 2004 trucks must carry the GO-Box, a little white box which counts the length of the Autobahn used by way of electrical control points, queried by overhead DSRC microwave radio transceivers at different locations. Overhead 3-D infrared laser scanners are used to detect and photograph trucks travelling without it.
Traffic laws and enforcement
On Austrian Autobahnen a general speed limit of 130 km/h (81 mph) is set. They may only be used by powered vehicles that are designed to achieve a maximum speed exceeding 60 km/h (38 mph). While on the motorway voluntary stops, U-turns and backward driving are prohibited.
Schnellstraßen
The Schnellstraßen (S) expressway system supports the Autobahns. To use Schnellstraßen, a vignette or GO-Box is required as well. Schnellstraßen are very similar to the Autobahnen; the chief difference is that they are more cheaply built with smaller curve radius and lesser bridges and tunnels. As Schnellstraßen fit better with the mountainous topography of Austria, they often serve as an Autobahn substitute. E.g. the main link between the Austria's westernmost state of Vorarlberg and adjacent Tyrol is entirely provided by the S16 Arlberg Schnellstraße, including the Arlberg Road Tunnel completed in 1979.
External information
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