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A new mobile bridge is revolutionizing highway maintenance work. With it, teams can carry out work on damaged sections without having to interrupt the flow of vehicles, ensuring safety and avoiding traffic jams.
A simple yet revolutionary solution is transforming the way roads are paved in Switzerland. This is the Astra Bridge, a mobile structure that allows works to be carried out without blocking traffic.
Anyone who has ever been stuck in traffic due to road construction knows how frustrating it can be. Despite efforts to minimize the impact, traffic jams are still unavoidable when road maintenance is being carried out. But now, an initiative by the Swiss Federal Roads Office could change this scenario.
The Astra Bridge, 257 meters long, allows vehicles to continue on their way normally while, just below, teams work to repair the road. Simple in concept, complex in execution, the bridge draws attention for its potential to change the logic of road construction.
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Movable bridge – Old idea, modern solution
Engineer Jürg Merian, known as “Mr. Astra Bridge”, was inspired by an Austrian ramp he saw more than ten years ago.
At the time, the Austrian model already allowed vehicles to pass over construction sites, but it was limited. The structure was not mobile, was difficult to install and uncomfortable for workers.
Under the old ramp, the space was very small — just 1,6 meters — and the noise from the cars could exceed 100 decibels.
This made the work environment unhealthy and inefficient. Switzerland used this ramp, but the problems eventually led to the search for a better alternative.
The first attempt failed
A few years later, Merian decided to improve the concept. Thus was born the first version of the Astra Bridge. It was wider, higher and, most importantly, mobile.
The bridge was placed on wheels and provided sound insulation, which improved the working environment. The height was increased to three meters, and the width became five.
However, new problems have emerged. During testing in 2022, the bridge had to be dismantled before construction was completed.
The slope of the access ramps was very steep — 6,1% — causing heavier vehicles to almost stop. This created long queues and caused complaints.
New version is a success in tests
Now, the bridge has returned in an improved version. The slope of the ramp has been reduced to just 1,25%, allowing vehicles to travel at up to 60 km/h.
The new bridge is being tested in the city of Recherswil, in Solothurn, and has shown good results.
There are almost no traffic jams. Drivers still slow down when they see the structure — after all, it's not every day that you see a 257-meter bridge in the middle of the road — but the impact on traffic is minimal. Some even slow down out of curiosity, but this doesn't cause significant delays.
More safety and comfort for workers
In addition to keeping traffic flowing, the movable bridge offers advantages for professionals involved in the works.
It protects against sun and rain and allows work during the day, avoiding uncomfortable night shifts, previously considered mandatory so as not to disturb drivers.
This benefit increased the number of companies interested in participating in the project. There were five offers to carry out paving at the site where the Astra Bridge was used — a number above the average, according to the Swiss department.
Operation requires care, but it pays off
The construction of the bridge requires planning. It needs to be installed directly on the section to be renovated and then towed at a speed of 0,5 km/h to the next section. This slow movement limits productivity: the team can only pave half of what they would do on a completely closed road.
Even so, the Federal Highway Department considers the outcome to be positive. Traffic continues to flow, workers have better conditions and public acceptance of the project is increasing.
International interest grows
The Astra Bridge was only recently unveiled, but it has already attracted the attention of other countries. Norway, Germany and the Netherlands have all expressed interest in adopting the solution. Switzerland, for its part, is open to collaboration.
Interestingly, the technology has not been patented. According to authorities, the goal is not to profit from the idea. The role of a federal agency, they say, is not to act as a commercial enterprise, but rather to serve the public.
This decision could accelerate the adoption of the model in other places. If successful, the Astra Bridge could become a global reference in road maintenance with less impact on traffic.
