A section of the A1 autoroute between Payerne and Avenches has been closed since yesterday evening as the Air Force prepares for an exercise to land fighters on the road.
In all, 4 F/A 18s will take off and land on the road, the first time that’s happened since 1991.
The section was built with the idea it can used as a runway if necessary – it’s long and straight and has a removable central reservation.
The Federal Roads Office says a mid-week time was thought to be the best as it’s a relatively quiet time on that section. Traffic is being diverted onto cantonal roads.
Sections of autoroute were built to be runways in the 1950s during the Cold War, but with war in Europe once again, military leaders believe the time is right to relaunch training.
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