The Autobahn is the pinnacle of the German driving experience. 12,949 kilometers (8,046 mi) of smooth, dense road network crossing the entire length of Germany. Built with a precision of German engineering, it is one of the most technologically advanced motorways of the world. Striking a balance between speed, efficiency and safety is the key to success in such projects.
It was Adolf Hitler who saw the benefits of having a high speed transit system and started a program for the expansion of Autobahn. By 1942, over 2500 mi of network had been built connecting major German cities. If you want a strong, fast motorway, it’s not the length or the width that counts; it’s the ‘depth’. The Autobahn ranges from 55 to 85cm in depth as compared to 35-39cm thick average British motorway. This thicker surface makes it stand the constant wear and tear of vehicles but the major reason for wear and tear is the rain. 2.5% side slope allows the water to drain off the surface in a quick manner.
This isn’t all! The autobahn is fast because it’s flat. It has about 4% constant gradient throughout which was quite difficult to maintain as the German authorities had to literally move mountains in order to maintain it. The motorway authorities, police and latest technologies help them to keep a check upon the rash drivers and maintain a lesser rate of accidents.
Thus it is an extremely important arterial road that criss-crosses the country and every detail that went into its making was executed by a massive team of designers and engineers., to make sure the road is always functional and the traffic keeps moving.
References:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSJbZiGQ_KI
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autobahn
Phoda be!!
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