1962: Opening of the South Autobahn

The first part of the South Autobahn opened in May 1962 – the A2 between Vienna-Vösendorf und Leobersdorf. Until December 1964 it was possible to drive on three lanes until Vienna Neustadt. Although the South Autobahn had already been planned as part of the Reichsautobahn projects of the Nazi regime – that was how the West Autobahn was to reach Inzersdorf Vienna via today’s Outer Ring Autobahn – it was nevertheless the first autobahn built exclusively after 1945.

The completion of the entire A2 route, however, via Graz and Klagenfurt to the Italian border, had to wait until 1999.