The motorway as a connection between our regions: loved, hated, needed (Swiss Press Audio 2013, by Reto Widmer) - Swiss Press Award

Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen SRF / DRS 3

Reto Widmer

When a new motorway was opened in the 1950s and 1960s, it was a real regional festival. In May 1967, it was the turn of the Oensingen-Hunzenschwil section. Bruno Hofstetter was there as a boy and was even allowed to pour a glass of white wine at the aperitif. This was under the reproving eyes of the then Federal Councilor, Peter Tschudi. In his input, Hofstetter describes his experiences at the time and the feelings of the local population, and what it was like to live for decades as an Oensingen farmer directly adjacent to one of Switzerland's busiest motorways. The first years of the motorway were the years of love for the motorway. After the lofty hopes that the population in many regions of Switzerland had placed in the motorways, a time of mixed feelings – coupled with hatred – came. This was especially true in the Knonauer Amt, where large protests took place against the construction of the A4 in the 1980s. More and more people were realizing that more and more motorways simply bring more and more traffic. A reality that Oensingen's mayor, Markus Flury, can confirm. He describes his feelings about the motorway, which range from euphoric and positive to resigned and negative.