Swiss Voters Reject $5 Billion Highway Expansion Plan

In a narrow referendum result, 52% of Swiss citizens voted against expanding six major highway sections, signaling shifting attitudes on infrastructure and climate policy.

The rejected plan included expansions near Bern, Basel, and Geneva, as well as three new tunnels, with a projected cost of 5 billion Swiss francs.
Environmental groups and left-leaning parties celebrated the result as a step toward a 'traffic transition' and a reprioritization of sustainable transport investments.
Opponents of the expansion cited concerns over climate goals, land use, and the lack of a comprehensive national traffic strategy.
The vote also drew unexpected opposition from some conservative voters, including farmers worried about losing agricultural land to road construction.
The decision challenges traditional Swiss support for major national infrastructure projects and reflects broader debates on mobility, urbanization, and immigration.