The geography of opposition to motorways: A spatial analysis of the vote on motorway expansions in Switzerland

In November 2024, 52.7% of Swiss citizens rejected government plans to extend six stretches of motorway, an outcome unexpected by most observers. This paper addresses the geography of opposition to motorway capacity expansion projects in relation to the 2126 Swiss municipalities. It provides a spatial analysis of a national vote that is unique from an international perspective and reflects the growing debates on major transport infrastructure. The ‘no’ vote was markedly higher in core cities, while the outcome was more balanced in other types of municipalities. It was also more prevalent in the French-speaking region. This result is in line with a classic left–right political divide that usually structures federal votes, as shown by an analysis of the previous 380 votes. Residual analysis reveals that municipalities close to the planned expansions generally voted ‘no’ but were more in favour than expected – although differences exist according to the spatial and mobility context. Conversely, rural municipalities, traditionally favourable to motorized traffic, were generally less supportive, perhaps due to a lack of expected benefits.