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The expansion of the A3 motorway from the Austrian town of Eisenstadt (Kismarton) to Klingenbach (Kelénpatak) near the Hungarian border has become a point of contention in Austria.
While Hungary is eager to complete the extension connecting with the upcoming M85 expressway, Austrian local communities and the Burgenland state parliament strongly oppose the project due to concerns about increased traffic and environmental impact.
The FPÖ (Freedom Party of Austria) has voiced its opposition, with Johann Tschürtz calling for a referendum on whether the A3 should be connected to the Hungarian M85. Norbert Hofer, FPÖ member and former Transport Minister, criticized the 2020 decision by the Burgenland state parliament to remove the A3 extension from the federal highway law, calling it a wrong signal.
The Politician emphasized that without the extension, local communities along the B16, including Siegendorf, Zagersdorf, and Wulkaprodersdorf, would be severely affected by increased traffic, especially as Hungary’s M85 expressway connects to the M1 motorway.
The dispute over the A3 expansion is part of a larger issue concerning border access between Austria and Hungary. Recently, Austria closed the Ágfalva-Schattendorf border crossing, creating significant difficulties for over 100,000 Hungarian workers commuting to Austria. Despite Hungarian calls for improved infrastructure to facilitate cross-border movement, Austria has been reluctant to make changes, citing local concerns over traffic and environmental impact.
As Burgenland prepares for the upcoming federal-state elections, the FPÖ insists on involving the public in the decision-making process, with Mr. Hofer stressing that a referendum on the A3 extension is necessary for the future-proofing of transport infrastructure in the region.
Via OTS, BVZ; Featured Image: Wikipedia