A2 (Croatia) - Route Description

Route Description

The A2 motorway is an important north–south motorway in Croatia, connecting the capital of the country, Zagreb, to Graz, Austria, via Maribor, Slovenia, as well as Vienna and other destinations along the Pyhrn route. The motorway follows a route through the Hrvatsko Zagorje region. Part of the road network of Croatia, the motorway is also part of European route E59 Zagreb–Graz–Vienna–Prague. The motorway is of major importance to Croatia in terms of economic development, especially for tourism and as a transit transport route. The road carries significant transit and tourist traffic as it connects to the Zagreb bypass segment of the A3 motorway, which serves as a hub distributing the southbound traffic to either eastbound A3 or southbound A1, and vice versa. As of the June 1997 Pan-European Transport Conference in Helsinki, the motorway is part of the Pan-European Corridor Xa.

The motorway spans 59.2 kilometres (36.8 mi) between the Macelj border crossing, Slovenia and the Zagreb–Jankomir interchange on the A3 motorway. The route serves Zagreb via the Ž1035 at the Jankomir intechange, Zaprešić via the D225, Zabok, Klanjec and Oroslavje via the D307, Sveti Križ Začretje via the D35, Krapina and Pregrada via the D206, Đurmanec via the D207 and Trakošćan via the D508. The D1 state road runs as a parallel, toll-free route along the motorway, and most of the motorway exits connect to that route directly, switching to D35, D206, D207 and D508 shortly afterwards.

The A2 motorway has at least two traffic lanes and an emergency lane in each direction along its entire length, except in tunnels, where there are emergency bays instead. All of the interchanges are trumpet interchanges, except the Jankomir interchange, which is a cloverleaf interchange. There are a number of rest areas along the motorway providing various types of services, ranging from simple parking spaces and restrooms to filling stations, restaurants and hotels. As of July 2011, the motorway has seven interchanges providing access to numerous towns and cities and the Croatian state road network. The motorway is operated by the Autocesta Zagreb–Macelj company.

An automatic traffic monitoring and guidance system is in place along the motorway. It consists of measuring, control and signalling devices located in zones where driving conditions may vary, such as at interchanges, viaducts, bridges, tunnels and zones where fog and strong wind are known to occur. The system uses variable traffic signs to communicate changing driving conditions, possible restrictions and other information to motorway users. The A2 motorway mainly runs through the plains and rolling hills of Hrvatsko Zagorje region, although the northernmost sections of the route traverse rugged terrain, requiring a number of viaducts and long tunnels along the route.

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