The new intelligent traffic control logic of the A1 freeway - a clear case for Bergauer AG

The challenge

The Winterthur branch of the Swiss Federal Roads Office (ASTRA) engaged Bergauer AG in an open tender procedure to develop a new traffic management system that optimizes the flow of traffic on the A1 freeway between the Winterthur-Ohringen and Oberwinterthur junctions.

Within the scope of the traffic optimization, a new traffic control logic with dynamic operating states was developed which

• Improves the traffic flow by speed control (especially in case of traffic congestion)
• Regulates the danger signalization in case of accidents or traffic jams
• Controls hard shoulder clearance and lane management (before congestion or after events)
• Increases traffic safety thorugh the combination of all measures

An exciting pilot project - for everyone involved

As the first system of its kind in Switzerland, the pilot project was a special challenge.

The new traffic control technology is characterized above all by the calculation of dynamically optimized operating conditions, which places high demands on the complex configuration and parameterization of the system.

The Process: Smart traffic control for high-performance roads

The delivered, technical control system MyHighway is characterized by:

• A powerful, regional traffic computer
• Danger warning based on traffic density (occupancy rate) and speed of single vehicle data
• Speed harmonization with use of single vehicle data
• reuse of hard shoulder based on single vehicle data
• Wrong-way driver detection
• 114 lane signals incl. turn signals in LED technology
• 38 speed signals in LED technology
• 15 Hazard signals in LED technology
• 43 variable message signs in prism technology
• 4 counting stations for statistical traffic data acquisition
• 35 overhead radars for recording single vehicle data

The solution: The innovative guidance system has numerous advantages

To counteract the high peak loads on the stretch between Ohringen and Oberwinterthur, MyHighway enables the temporary opening of the hard shoulder to all traffic. This measure increases the capacity of the freeway by 50%, as a third lane is added to what is actually a two-lane stretch. Consequently, traffic jams are prevented and the risk of collisions is reduced.

Through the dynamic calculation of traffic conditions, a possible build-up of congestion is predicted in advance, and through the speed harmonization of the traffic flow, the situation can be defused accordingly at an early stage and the actual traffic jam can be avoided. Furthermore, the signalization of danger warnings in case of accidents or traffic jams reduces the risk of subsequent accidents and contributes to an increase in traffic safety.

The project, implemented between 2020 and 2025, was commissioned by the Swiss Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) with a contract volume exceeding €3 million. It covered the full scope of signalling and traffic control for both tunnels along the motorway section.

At the core of the implementation was the deployment of the MyHighway traffic management and control system. Along the 12 km route, more than 580 dynamic signals were installed and integrated. Traffic data is collected via 95 overhead radar sensors and processed through 56 roadside units distributed along the motorway.

Special attention was given to implementing speed harmonisation and danger warning functions in accordance with national FEDRO standards. Intelligent traffic algorithms were configured to enable automated congestion prevention, traffic flow harmonisation, and semi-automatic lane transfers for two-way traffic operations.

The system was fully integrated into the higher-level control environment and connected to neighbouring traffic management systems. Modern IT standards were applied, including OPC UA interfaces, a VMware-based system architecture, Active Directory support, secure remote access via reverse proxy, and industry-standard backup and release management procedures.