Public transport buses to use A4 hard shoulder during congestion

Public transport buses will be allowed to use the hard shoulder on the A4 east motorway towards Vienna between Simmeringer Haide and the Prater junction during traffic congestion from Monday, ORF reported.

The measure is intended to help commuters reach their destinations reliably and arrive at work on time despite heavy traffic, motorway operator Asfinag said. It will apply only when traffic is slow-moving and only to public transport buses.

Asfinag expects more commuters to use buses because of work on Vienna’s S-Bahn mainline. Transport Minister Peter Hanke said the measure would benefit thousands of people travelling to Vienna each day.

Emergency corridors will be formed between the traffic lanes on the affected section. The hard shoulder must remain clear and is not needed to create the corridor, Asfinag said. Signs along the route will indicate the arrangement.