Austrian Anti-Aircraft System Abolished
In a move aimed at easing traffic congestion, the speed limit on parts of the South Motorway (A2) and Pyhrn Motorway (A9) in Styria will be lifted from Good Friday onwards. However, the speed limit between Graz East and West will remain in place, due to safety and traffic flow considerations unique to that segment.
The decision to lift the speed limit on other sections of the A2 and A9 motorways was signed by the responsible provincial governor on Tuesday. Landeshauptmann Kunasek believes that this change will relieve thousands of commuters daily.
However, the Styrian Greens have expressed their disappointment and criticized the end of the speed limit measure as incomprehensible, as they believe it will lead to increased emission pollution for both people living along the motorways and commuters themselves.
The Immissionsschutzgesetz-Luft (IG-L) allows Austrian federal states to impose temporary speed limits on highways to improve air quality. In Styria, the IG-L speed limits have been divided into four partial corridors on the Pyhrn motorway (A9) and the South motorway (A2) with a combined length of over 94 kilometers.
The speed limit between Graz East and West will remain in place permanently due to its proximity to residential areas, a medical center, and a school. The Styrian government has stated that they will continue to monitor developments closely and take necessary measures to protect the Styrian environment.
By December 2028, a plan for air purification will be created in coordination with the ministry, potentially seeking an extension of the deadline for achieving the goals. The activation of speed limits based on air values in the Graz metropolitan area has led to noticeable improvements in air quality, with measurements now including fine dust, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides.
Two new air quality monitoring stations will be operational by July 2025 in heavily polluted areas on the A2 and A9 motorways, to record emissions of fine dust (PM10 and PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) for one year before evaluation and potential measures are worked out.
The further course of action to achieve EU limit values for air quality, applicable from 2030, will be discussed with the responsible federal ministry. Landeshauptmann-Stellvertreterin Manuela Khom has emphasized the importance of this discussion, stating that they will work diligently to ensure the cleanest possible air for the people of Styria.
- The policy-and-legislation known as the Immissionsschutzgesetz-Luft (IG-L) enables Austrian federal states to implement temporary speed limits on highways to enhance air quality.
- The Styrian Greens have criticized the removal of the speed limit measure as incomprehensible, arguing that it will lead to increased emission pollution for those living near the motorways and commuters.
- By December 2028, a plan for air purification will be created in collaboration with the ministry, potentially seeking an extension of the deadline for achieving the goals.
- Landeshauptmann-Stellvertre seiner Manuela Khom has highlighted the importance of discussions regarding the further course of action to achieve EU limit values for air quality, noting that they will work diligently to ensure the cleanest possible air for the people of Styria. The automotive industry, finance, transportation, politics, general news, and policy-and-legislation are all connected through this discussion, as it pertains to traffic congestion, air quality, and emission control in the automotive and transportation sectors.
