Motorways: Backbone of Swiss mobility remains in good condition
Switzerland's motorways are in good condition - and we want to keep them that way. According to FEDRO's new network status report, 91% of all facilities are in good or very good condition. To ensure that this remains the case, FEDRO has invested around CHF 1.7 billion in maintenance in 2024. As many facilities are getting older and traffic continues to increase, maintenance will become even more important in the future.
Although they only make up three percent of the entire road network, over 40 percent of all vehicle kilometers are covered on the motorways. They are also essential for freight traffic: around 70 percent of all road transportation runs on the national road network. With a replacement value of CHF 146 billion, it is one of the country's most important infrastructures.
91 percent of the systems in good condition
The «Report on the state of the motorway/national roads network» shows: Thanks to ongoing investment in maintenance, the national roads are in good condition overall. Around 91 percent of all facilities are in the best two of five condition classes.
- Roads: 97 percent are in good condition. Investments in the road structure and surfacing ensure road safety and noise reduction in the long term.
- Engineering structures: 92 percent of bridges, galleries and wildlife overpasses are in good or acceptable condition. 0.5 percent need to be replaced or repaired in the medium term. The structural and traffic safety of these is also guaranteed.
- Tunnels: All tunnels are safe to use. 86 percent are in good or acceptable condition. 13 percent show moderate damage and are subject to increased monitoring. At the end of 2024, the following tunnels were classified as in need of renovation
- Schöneichtunnel: The Schöneichtunnel was repaired as part of the realization of the Schwamendingen enclosure. The construction work was completed in 2025.
- Black Forest Tunnel: The Black Forest Tunnel on the A2 Basel east bypass has been undergoing modernization since April 2025 in order to optimize traffic flow and meet increased safety requirements.
- Solis and Passmal tunnels (N29, Julierstrasse): Planning for the repair has been initiated.
- Operating and safety equipment: 92% is in good or acceptable condition. Replacements are already underway where defects exist.
Value retention ensures safe operation in the long term
With ongoing maintenance, FEDRO ensures that the motorways and national roads can continue to fulfill their function for the population and the economy in the future. In 2024, FEDRO invested CHF 1.7 billion in this area. This expenditure is likely to increase further in the coming years. The reason: many sections of freeway date back to the 1960s, 70s and 80s and are becoming increasingly congested due to the increase in traffic. After around 50 years of operation, engineering structures such as bridges, underpasses, overpasses and tunnels on these sections need to be comprehensively renewed and adapted to the applicable standards. In addition, the federal government is investing in intelligent systems (e.g. modern tunnel controls or traffic management systems) that make traffic safer and more fluid.
All investments come from the National Roads and Agglomeration Transport Fund (NAF) and are therefore 100% user-financed. In view of the growing need for maintenance, long-term financing remains a political task.
Further information on the «Report on the state of the motorway network» and an overview of the condition grades can be found here: Network status report
Source: ASTRA
