A1 motorway to close overnight for road repairs

The A1 motorway will be closed in the Vienna-bound direction between St. Valentin and Haag in the Amstetten district for two nights because of damaged road surfaces, ORF reported.

The closure will run from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Traffic will be diverted along the signposted B1 and L80 routes.

The damage is attributed to the heavy strain placed on the road over recent years. According to motorway operator ASFINAG, 18 motorway locations have required repairs because of heat since the beginning of June.

ASFINAG said this summer’s heatwaves were expected to play only a minor role in the latest damage. Temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius have nevertheless left their mark, particularly along the A1 and the southern motorway, as well as on sections that are older or heavily used.

The A1 section between Haag and St. Valentin was already closed for repairs in mid-July. At that time, old concrete slabs in an existing construction zone expanded because of the heat and pushed over one another. ASFINAG said road damage caused by extreme heat has generally increased over the years.