Autostrèda A1

A1 Motorway
Autostrèda A1
Autostrèda dl Mesdì
Route information
Part of E1 (whole) E3 & E5 (part)
Length	420 km (260 mi)
Existed	1973–present
North end	Balsan District
South end	Quebecshire border
Location
Regions	Provinzia Adesc Provinzia Inn Provinzia Passeier
Highway system
Autostrèdes of Tirol ← A 11 → A 2

The Autostrèda A1, nicknamed Autostrèda dl Mesdì ("Motorway of the South"), is the most important motorway in Tirol. The motorway links the two largest cities of Tirol and the industrial heartlands of the Inn Valley. It is part of the E1, E3 and E5 Ecros routes.

The A1 reduced travel time between Balsan and Innsbruck from several days to under 2 hours.

History

Since the late 1920s the successive Tiroler governments sought to complete this major infrastructure project, as it was believed that it would be of vital economic importance. Construction began in 1959, with the first stretch between Innsbruck and Balsan being completed in 1969. Construction of major tunnels and mountain passes began in the same year for the final stretch of the route between Innsbruck and Porsenù. In 1973, the contemporary Premier of Tirol opened the Autostrèda dl Mesdì to the public.

Originally designated only by its name, in 1995, following the standardisation of the motorways, the road was used as the primary route of the designation system, A1.