A73 motorway (Netherlands)

The A73 motorway is a motorway in the Netherlands, running in a generally north-south direction through the provinces of Limburg and North Brabant. It is a major artery connecting the northern and southern parts of Limburg, and provides a significant link between the Randstad area (particularly the city of Nijmegen) and the south of the Netherlands, as well as onward connections to Germany.

The A73 begins at the Ewijk junction near Nijmegen, where it connects with the A50 and A325. It then continues south, crossing the Maas river several times. Key cities along its route include Venray, Venlo, and Roermond. South of Roermond, the A73 splits. One branch connects to the A2 motorway near Maasbracht, offering connections towards Maastricht and Belgium. The other branch, known as the Maasbracht-Venlo route, continues east towards Venlo.

The A73 plays an important role in the regional economy, facilitating freight transport and commuter traffic. It has significantly improved accessibility to Limburg and reduced congestion on local roads. The motorway has been constructed in several phases, with the final sections opening in the late 2000s and early 2010s. The construction involved various engineering challenges, including tunneling under populated areas and sensitive environmental zones.