Austria: questions regarding A14, S16, A12, and routes parallel thereto

[dave1693]

So, upon michih's recommendation, I looked at this book regarding Autobahnen in Austria:

https://www.asfinag.at/media/1510/de_buch-30-jahre-asfinag.pdf

I've only been to Austria once, back in 1978, traveling from the Liechtenstein border (near Feldkirch) to Innsbruck, and then up to the (then West) German border near Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

The referenced book gives rise, for me, to one question about each of A12 and A14, the only two autobahns in the area of my travels, and other research leads me to another question about what is (or was) in between the two. The A12 question might be a new waypoint request.

A12:
The book makes it fairly clear that the sections of A12 built before 1978 were all east of Dirschenbach. The section from the Zirl Ost interchange to Dirschenbach (basically, the Zirl Bypass section) appears to have been opened in late 1976. The catch is, there is no longer an interchange near Dirschenbach! That appears to have been a temporary interchange that was eliminated when the Dirschenbach-to-Lengenberg sections were completed... but those didn't open until at least December of 1978, so I conclude that our July 1978 tour bus most likely got on A12 at its then-current west end near Dirschenbach... where there isn't a waypoint.

If we were to add a waypoint here connecting A12 and B171, what would we call it? *94 and *A12(94) (my estimate of the nearest whole kilometer)? Or something else?

A14:
The book appears to state that the very first AND very *last* sections completed were around Bludenz. The earlier one is marked "(rechte RFB)" and the later one marked "(linke RFB)". Right and left RFB? What does RFB mean? And if only the "right" RFB was complete in 1978, did that carry only westbound traffic, only eastbound traffic, both, or no traffic at all until the "left" RFB was also complete?

In between:
Today, S16 connects the east end of A14 with the west end of A12. Most of S16 wasn't there in 1978; from what I've been able to gather, only the westernmost 8 kilometers were complete then (interchanges 53 to 61 inclusive). Most of the old route parallel to S16 isn't in the HB -- specifically L97, L197, and L68... but other Austrian L routes *are* in the HB, including a couple that I traveled on. What is the criteria for including or excluding an L route?

[michih]

I'll look into this next weekend.

[michih]

A12:
That appears to have been a temporary interchange that was eliminated when the Dirschenbach-to-Lengenberg sections were completed... but those didn't open until at least December of 1978, so I conclude that our July 1978 tour bus most likely got on A12 at its then-current west end near Dirschenbach... where there isn't a waypoint.
If we were to add a waypoint here connecting A12 and B171, what would we call it? *94 and *A12(94) (my estimate of the nearest whole kilometer)? Or something else?

I found this map: https://geoportal.bayern.de/bayernatlas/?lang=de&topic=zeitr&bgLayer=atkis&layers=luftbild,zeitreihe_tk&E=666169.15&N=5238838.11&zoom=12&time=1980&layers_timestamp=,19801231

1980 is indicated but it shows the 1978 end at Dirschenberg. The next map update from 1985 is showing today's situation: https://geoportal.bayern.de/bayernatlas/?lang=de&topic=zeitr&bgLayer=atkis&layers=luftbild,zeitreihe_tk&E=665716.43&N=5238860.78&zoom=12&time=1985&layers_timestamp=,19851231

I've added *94 to A12 and E60 because it's about 3km from exit 91 and 2km from exit 96 and *A12(94) to B171.

A14:
The book appears to state that the very first AND very *last* sections completed were around Bludenz. The earlier one is marked "(rechte RFB)" and the later one marked "(linke RFB)". Right and left RFB? What does RFB mean? And if only the "right" RFB was complete in 1978, did that carry only westbound traffic, only eastbound traffic, both, or no traffic at all until the "left" RFB was also complete?

RFB = Richtungsfahrbahn = carriageway. It's always two-way traffic. It means that you most likely drove A14 from exit 57 to exit 61

17. 11. 1969 ASt Bludenz–Nüziders – ASt Bludenz-Montafon (rechte RFB) 4,661 km

In between:
Today, S16 connects the east end of A14 with the west end of A12. Most of S16 wasn't there in 1978; from what I've been able to gather, only the westernmost 8 kilometers were complete then (interchanges 53 to 61 inclusive).

Arlberg tunnel was opened on 1st December 1978 at 2:36 PM. You likely traveled S16 from exit 61 to exit 53 in Summer 1978.

17. 11. 1969 HASt Braz-West – ASt Bludenz-Montafon 5,288 km
1972 ASt Braz-Ost – HASt Braz West 2,649 km
01. 12. 1978 ASt St. Anton/Arlberg – ASt langen/Arlberg (linker RFB) 16,053 km

Most of the old route parallel to S16 isn't in the HB -- specifically L97, L197, and L68... but other Austrian L routes *are* in the HB, including a couple that I traveled on. What is the criteria for including or excluding an L route?

In German, L routes are Landesstraßen "state routes" and B routes are Bundesstraßen "federal routes".
All former Austrian B routes are maintained by states now and called "Landesstraßen B". The former L routes are called "Landesstraßen L" now and are not signed. Today's "B" routes are still signed and called Bxx in all states except of Arlberg. Arlberg calls them Lxx. "L" and "B" prefixes are not used on signs.

The TM system in HB is called "Austria Landesstraßen B" which comprises all former federal routes.

I guess that you partially traveled B197 and B171.

[dave1693]

I found this map: https://geoportal.bayern.de/bayernatlas/?lang=de&topic=zeitr&bgLayer=atkis&layers=luftbild,zeitreihe_tk&E=666169.15&N=5238838.11&zoom=12&time=1980&layers_timestamp=,19801231

1980 is indicated but it shows the 1978 end at Dirschenberg. The next map update from 1985 is showing today's situation: https://geoportal.bayern.de/bayernatlas/?lang=de&topic=zeitr&bgLayer=atkis&layers=luftbild,zeitreihe_tk&E=665716.43&N=5238860.78&zoom=12&time=1985&layers_timestamp=,19851231

I've added *94 to A12 and E60 because it's about 3km from exit 91 and 2km from exit 96 and *A12(94) to B171.

A14:
The book appears to state that the very first AND very *last* sections completed were around Bludenz. The earlier one is marked "(rechte RFB)" and the later one marked "(linke RFB)".

RFB = Richtungsfahrbahn = carriageway. It's always two-way traffic. It means that you most likely drove A14 from exit 57 to exit 61

In between:
Today, S16 connects the east end of A14 with the west end of A12. Most of S16 wasn't there in 1978; from what I've been able to gather, only the westernmost 8 kilometers were complete then (interchanges 53 to 61 inclusive).

Arlberg tunnel was opened on 1st December 1978 at 2:36 PM. You likely traveled S16 from exit 61 to exit 53 in Summer 1978.

Most of the old route parallel to S16 isn't in the HB -- specifically L97, L197, and L68... but other Austrian L routes *are* in the HB, including a couple that I traveled on. What is the criteria for including or excluding an L route?

In German, L routes are Landesstraßen "state routes" and B routes are Bundesstraßen "federal routes".
All former Austrian B routes are maintained by states now and called "Landesstraßen B". The former L routes are called "Landesstraßen L" now and are not signed. Today's "B" routes are still signed and called Bxx in all states except of Arlberg. Arlberg calls them Lxx. "L" and "B" prefixes are not used on signs.

I guess that you partially traveled B197 and B171.

Okay, so it looks like I traveled thus...
L190 from Feldkirch to A14 exit 57
A14 from exit 57 to exit 61 where it effectively becomes S16
S16 from exit 61 to exit 53, Braz-Ost
L97 from Braz-Ost to B197
B197, nearly all of it from L97 at Langen to L68 at St. Anton am Arlberg
L68 from B197 to B171 near Flirsch
B171 from L68 to A12 near Dirschenbach
A12 from Dirschenbach to Innsbruck

Though from my notes we did not use the Autobahn going back from Innsbruck to Zirl en route to Germany.

Based on what you said about L routes in Vorarlberg, I went to GMSV to check L97, and alas it is unsigned, thus leaving another gap in my clinched route. But also, I must wonder: Gott im Himmel, how did the tour bus fit into that dinky little tunnel east of Braz?  (The tunnels near Wald am Arlberg and just west of Langen are much more bus friendly.)

[michih]

But also, I must wonder: Gott im Himmel, how did the tour bus fit into that dinky little tunnel east of Braz? 

This? It was built in early 2000s.

[dave1693]

But also, I must wonder: Gott im Himmel, how did the tour bus fit into that dinky little tunnel east of Braz? 

This? It was built in early 2000s.

Aha. Yes, that. So now I'm curious as to the route the Arlbergstrasse (L97) took before that tunnel was built.

[michih]

The tool is terrible but you might try to select "Luftbilder" on the left and the desired year or decade:

- 2018 (with the S16 and small tunnel)
- 1980s (with S16 tunnel only)
- 1950s (no tunnel)

1970s aerials seem to be taken in 1979 when the next section was already opened.
I guess that the road was aligned like back in 1950s but there might have been a temporary road alignment during construction works too.

My browser doesn't load the site correct when I open all links at once. I think you should load them one by one.