Ingenious bridge aims to solve roadworks delays for a price

The Swiss government is trialling a unique way to reduce queuing at roadworks zones, and it’s a level above anything we’ve seen before.

In a video uploaded to social media platform X – formerly Twitter – by Akın Çelikoğlu, Swiss motorists are seen driving up onto a temporary bridge, revealed to be positioned above the road where repairs are being undertaken.

This not only means traffic can continue flowing, but also the road workers are better protected and at less risk of being hit by inattentive motorists.

However, as with everything there is a catch to what seems like the most logical solution.

As reported by Swiss outlet SRF, this bridge – known as the Astra Bridge – is the second iteration of the design, after the first trial which took place in 2022 raised concerns from motorists.

Some drivers reported feeling uneasy on the temporary structure, while its entry and exit ramps were deemed too steep, leading motorists to slow down excessively and back up traffic.

The Astra Bridge 2.0 has reportedly aimed to fix these concerns by being longer with smoother entry and exit ramps, while a speed limit of 60km/h has been imposed.

Though it’s possibly one of the best approaches to roadworks we’ve seen, the project has come at a cost – 26 million Swiss Francs or A$43.4 million, according to The Swiss Times.