Expressways of Austria
Schnellstraßen (German for 'expressways' / 'fast roads'), officially Bundesstraßen S, are federal limited-access roads very similar to Autobahnen; the chief difference is that they are more cheaply built with fewer tunnels, mostly just following the given topography. Depending on the road extension, they are either signposted as Autobahn or Autostraße according to Austrian traffic regulations. The speed limit on Schnellstraßen is 100 km/h, however on some it is 130 km/h indicated by a sign. The current Schnellstraßen system has a total length of 466 km (290 mi).
As they fit better with the mountainous topography of Austria, Schnellstraßen often serve as an autobahn substitute. For example, 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.
List of schnellstraßen
Number | Length (km) | Length (mi) | Southern or western terminus | Northern or eastern terminus | Local names | Formed | Removed | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
S 1 | 63.3 | 39.3 | — | — | Wiener Außenring Schnellstraße | — | — | |
S 2 | 7.2 | 4.5 | — | — | Wiener Nordrand Schnellstraße | — | — | |
S 3 | 35 | 22 | — | — | Weinviertler Schnellstraße | — | — | |
S 4 | 17 | 11 | — | — | Mattersburger Schnellstraße | — | — | |
S 5 | 44.5 | 27.7 | — | — | Stockerauer Schnellstraße | — | — | |
S 6 | 105.3 | 65.4 | — | — | Semmering Schnellstraße | — | — | |
S 7 | 28 | 17 | — | — | Fürstenfelder Schnellstraße | proposed | — | |
S 8 | 34 | 21 | — | — | Marchfeld Schnellstraße | proposed | — | |
S 10 | 38 | 24 | — | — | Mühlviertler Schnellstraße | — | — | |
S 16 | 62.2 | 38.6 | — | — | Arlberg Schnellstraße | — | — | |
S 18 | 7.5 | 4.7 | — | — | Bodensee Schnellstraße | proposed | — | |
S 31 | 46 | 29 | — | — | Burgenland Schnellstraße | — | — | |
S 33 | 28 | 17 | — | — | Kremser Schnellstraße | — | — | |
S 34 | 9 | 5.6 | — | — | Traisental Schnellstraße | proposed | — | |
S 35 | 35.8 | 22.2 | — | — | Brucker Schnellstraße | — | — | |
S 36 | 58 | 36 | — | — | Murtal Schnellstraße | — | — | |
S 37 | 66 | 41 | — | — | Klagenfurter Schnellstraße | — | — | |
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