Why Autobahn Roads Are Double the Thickness of Normal Roads
Chapter 1

The road before Hitler: how the Autobahn actually began

Chapter 2

Engineered for extreme speed: building the superhighway

Chapter 3

The unwritten laws of the fast lane: rules and etiquette

Chapter 4

Myth vs. reality: what it's really like to drive today

YOUR GOAL

Master of Secrets of the speedway and the truth about Germany's Autobahn

Ch 2 · Engineered for extreme speed: building the superhighway
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marcus Engineers design the flat road surfaces of the German Autobahn.

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marcus Autobahn Curve Engineering

Smooth clothoid curves, steer bit by bit, we glide right through.

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The Autobahn is curved on purpose to keep drivers from falling asleep.

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marcus The engineering behind the curved designs of the German Autobahn

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The science of the flat surface

marcus Diagrams illustrate sponge-like road layers and a sloped Autobahn surface draining rainwater away

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Curving roads to keep drivers awake

marcus Sleek vehicle silhouettes speed along a curved asphalt highway bordered by dense pine forests.

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Engineered for extreme speed: building the superhighway
BETA

marcus Build the superhighway layers to discover the engineering secrets behind the Autobahn's extreme speeds.

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Fun Fact

Thick concrete roads: The concrete on the Autobahn is up to 16 inches thick, which is nearly double the thickness of standard American highways.

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Glossary
autobahn (noun)
A high-speed expressway, especially one located in Germany. In 1932, Mayor Konrad Adenauer dedicated the first public stretch of the network between Cologne and Bonn.

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Gossip

Which highway feature matters most on road trips?

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Quiz

What is the maximum slope or incline percentage allowed on most Autobahn sections to ensure heavy trucks can maintain speed?

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marcus The deep concrete layers of Germany's Autobahn highway system.

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Quiz

What safety feature is placed every 2 kilometers along the Autobahn to help stranded drivers call for help?

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marcus Germany builds massive forested overpasses for wild animals.

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Quiz

How thick is the concrete and asphalt base of a typical Autobahn road?

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Quiz

What is the term for the dangerous loss of traction when a car's tires slide on a thin film of water on the road?

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Quiz

What are the green, vegetated bridges built over the Autobahn for migrating animals called in German?

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Quiz

What is the main geological threat that the deep, multi-layered Autobahn foundation is designed to prevent?

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Quiz

Why is the asphalt on the Autobahn specially formulated to be exceptionally smooth and porous?

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Quiz

Why do Autobahn engineers intentionally design curves into the highway instead of long, straight lines?

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