Landesstraße
Encyclopedia
Landesstraßen are roads in Germany and Austria that are, as a rule, the responsibility of the respective German
or Austrian
federal state. The term may therefore be translated as "state road". They are roads that cross the boundary of a rural or urban district (Landkreis or Kreisfreie Stadt). A Landesstraße is thus less important that a Bundesstraße
or federal road, but more significant than a Kreisstraße
or district road. The classification of a road as a Landesstraße is a legal matter (Widmung). In the free state
s of Bavaria
and Saxony
– but not, however, in the Free State of Thuringia
– Landesstraßen are known as Staatsstraßen.
The kilometrage is shown on white signs by the roadside with black letters, known as location signs (Stationszeichen), that replace the former kilometre stones. The beginning and end of a Landesstraße is specified using so-called hub (Netzknoten) numbers. That makes its location unambiguous, which is important for rapid assistance when there is an accident, for example. The hub numbers are displayed on the upper part of the sign and also indicate their direction. In the example in the photograph, therefore No. 6608 039 is left of the sign 6608 023 to the right. In the bottom right-hand corner of the sign can be seen the so-called Stationierungsrichtung or direction of signage. It runs in our example from right to left and indicates in which direction the road kilometres are counted.
In Lower Saxony, this new system has been in placed since 2007 and divides the Landestraßen into sections numbered 10, 20, etc. The location signs (Stationszeichen) comprise two panels. The location panel (Stationierungstafel) displays the name of the state (Niedersachsen) and county letters (e.g. Kreis WF) at the top, and the road letter and number below (e.g. L 627). The classification panel (Klassifizierungstafel) shows the section number, kilometrage and direction of the start hub (e.g. 10 Abschnitt and 2,0 → 0,0). The letters OD indicate a location post within a town or village and may be displayed in places other than on a white post. By the end of 2008 almost all the 8,000 kilometre posts on Lower Saxony's Landesstraßen had been replaced.
Due to the division of funding, the federal states usually try to get the more substantial Landesstraßen officially designated as Bundesstraßen, so that their subsequent improvement and maintenance is funded from the Federal budget. The Bundesstraßen are, however, intended as links between cities (major centres) and radiate from them. It is not usually possible to have concentric roads, which link the satellite towns with one another, designated as Bundesstraßen. Similarly, it is difficult to transfer responsibility for the short stub roads running from cities to nearby motorways to the Federal Authorities.
the Bezirksstraßen of the GDR
(also called Category 1 Landstraßen) were generally classified as Landesstraßen without consideration for their condition. Due to the austere design of the country road network in the GDR (e. g. occasionally one of two parallel roads or, where they were of low traffic importance, the links between them were simply allowed to fall into disrepair) there are today in the new federal states several unpaved roads and dirt tracks that are formally Landesstraßen (e. g. the L 208 between Burkersroda
and Balgstädt
in Saxony-Anhalt
or the L 1062 between Wittersroda
and Lengefeld in Thuringia
). The upgrade of these roads is unlikely in view of the lack of funding and their low importance; in most cases attempts are being made to have their status downgraded.
today all important roads, apart from those managed by ASFINAG, are called Landesstraßen. Even the former Bundesstraßen are now Landesstraßen, because they fall under the responsibility of the federal states
.
Except in Vorarlberg
, the former Bundesstraßen continue to be designated with the prefix B. The remaining Landesstraßen are prefixed with the letter L. On traffic signs the prefixes A (Autobahnen i.e. motorways) and S (Kraftfahrstraßen i.e. motor roads) are usually not used, unlike the Bundestraßen. Roads numbered with fewer digits are generally of more importance in the road network. The former designation of more important Landesstraßen in several states as Landeshauptstraßen (LH) is only occasionally seen now on road and street maps.
States of Germany
Germany is made up of sixteen which are partly sovereign constituent states of the Federal Republic of Germany. Land literally translates as "country", and constitutionally speaking, they are constituent countries...
or Austrian
States of Austria
Austria is a federal republic made up of nine states, known in German as Länder . Since Land is also the German word for a country, the term Bundesländer is often used instead to avoid ambiguity. The Constitution of Austria uses both terms...
federal state. The term may therefore be translated as "state road". They are roads that cross the boundary of a rural or urban district (Landkreis or Kreisfreie Stadt). A Landesstraße is thus less important that a Bundesstraße
Bundesstraße
Bundesstraße , abbreviated B, is the denotation for German and Austrian national highways.-Germany:...
or federal road, but more significant than a Kreisstraße
Kreisstraße
A Kreisstraße is a class of road in Germany. It carries traffic between the towns and villages within a Kreis or district or between two neighbouring districts. In terms of importance, the Kreisstraße ranks below a Landesstraße , but above a Gemeindestraße or "local road"...
or district road. The classification of a road as a Landesstraße is a legal matter (Widmung). In the free state
Free state
Free state may refer to:* Free state , a loosely defined term used by various states at different times and places to describe themselves...
s of Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
and Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
– but not, however, in the Free State of Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
– Landesstraßen are known as Staatsstraßen.
Designation
The abbreviation for a Landesstraße consists of a prefixed capital letter L and a serial number (e. g. L 1, L 83, L 262 or L 3190). Staatsstraßen in Saxony are similarly abbreviated using a capital S (e. g. S 190) and the Staatsstraßen in Bavaria are prefixed with the letters St (e. g. St 2108).The kilometrage is shown on white signs by the roadside with black letters, known as location signs (Stationszeichen), that replace the former kilometre stones. The beginning and end of a Landesstraße is specified using so-called hub (Netzknoten) numbers. That makes its location unambiguous, which is important for rapid assistance when there is an accident, for example. The hub numbers are displayed on the upper part of the sign and also indicate their direction. In the example in the photograph, therefore No. 6608 039 is left of the sign 6608 023 to the right. In the bottom right-hand corner of the sign can be seen the so-called Stationierungsrichtung or direction of signage. It runs in our example from right to left and indicates in which direction the road kilometres are counted.
In Lower Saxony, this new system has been in placed since 2007 and divides the Landestraßen into sections numbered 10, 20, etc. The location signs (Stationszeichen) comprise two panels. The location panel (Stationierungstafel) displays the name of the state (Niedersachsen) and county letters (e.g. Kreis WF) at the top, and the road letter and number below (e.g. L 627). The classification panel (Klassifizierungstafel) shows the section number, kilometrage and direction of the start hub (e.g. 10 Abschnitt and 2,0 → 0,0). The letters OD indicate a location post within a town or village and may be displayed in places other than on a white post. By the end of 2008 almost all the 8,000 kilometre posts on Lower Saxony's Landesstraßen had been replaced.
Properties
In terms of their construction, Landesstraßen tend to be built to a lesser standard than Bundesstraßen and their cross-section is generally smaller. In individual cases, however, the standard of construction may vary depending on when it was built and its importance as a route.| Standard cross-section 9.5 with a road width of 6.5 m. Typical standard cross-section with a permitted maximum loading of 15,000 vehs/day (of which 300 lorries/day). |
Due to the division of funding, the federal states usually try to get the more substantial Landesstraßen officially designated as Bundesstraßen, so that their subsequent improvement and maintenance is funded from the Federal budget. The Bundesstraßen are, however, intended as links between cities (major centres) and radiate from them. It is not usually possible to have concentric roads, which link the satellite towns with one another, designated as Bundesstraßen. Similarly, it is difficult to transfer responsibility for the short stub roads running from cities to nearby motorways to the Federal Authorities.
Situation in the new federal states
Following German reunificationGerman reunification
German reunification was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany , and when Berlin reunited into a single city, as provided by its then Grundgesetz constitution Article 23. The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as die...
the Bezirksstraßen of the GDR
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
(also called Category 1 Landstraßen) were generally classified as Landesstraßen without consideration for their condition. Due to the austere design of the country road network in the GDR (e. g. occasionally one of two parallel roads or, where they were of low traffic importance, the links between them were simply allowed to fall into disrepair) there are today in the new federal states several unpaved roads and dirt tracks that are formally Landesstraßen (e. g. the L 208 between Burkersroda
Burkersroda
Burkersroda is a village and a former municipality in the Burgenlandkreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 July 2009, it is part of the municipality Balgstädt....
and Balgstädt
Balgstädt
Balgstädt is a municipality in the Burgenlandkreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany....
in Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt is a landlocked state of Germany. Its capital is Magdeburg and it is surrounded by the German states of Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia.Saxony-Anhalt covers an area of...
or the L 1062 between Wittersroda
Blankenhain
Blankenhain is a town in the Weimarer Land district, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated 14 km south of Weimar....
and Lengefeld in Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
). The upgrade of these roads is unlikely in view of the lack of funding and their low importance; in most cases attempts are being made to have their status downgraded.
Situation in Austria
In AustriaAustria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
today all important roads, apart from those managed by ASFINAG, are called Landesstraßen. Even the former Bundesstraßen are now Landesstraßen, because they fall under the responsibility of the federal states
States of Austria
Austria is a federal republic made up of nine states, known in German as Länder . Since Land is also the German word for a country, the term Bundesländer is often used instead to avoid ambiguity. The Constitution of Austria uses both terms...
.
Except in Vorarlberg
Vorarlberg
Vorarlberg is the westernmost federal-state of Austria. Although it is the second smallest in terms of area and population , it borders three countries: Germany , Switzerland and Liechtenstein...
, the former Bundesstraßen continue to be designated with the prefix B. The remaining Landesstraßen are prefixed with the letter L. On traffic signs the prefixes A (Autobahnen i.e. motorways) and S (Kraftfahrstraßen i.e. motor roads) are usually not used, unlike the Bundestraßen. Roads numbered with fewer digits are generally of more importance in the road network. The former designation of more important Landesstraßen in several states as Landeshauptstraßen (LH) is only occasionally seen now on road and street maps.