Fernpass in Austria Closed for Two Hours Due to Protest Against Transit Traffic

The Fernpass, a crucial north-south transit route connecting Germany, Austria, and Italy, will face a two-hour closure on Saturday due to a protest against heavy transit traffic.

The demonstration is scheduled from 09:45 to 12:00, coinciding with the start of summer holidays in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Authorities anticipate severe traffic congestion and strongly advise drivers to seek alternative routes, bypassing the affected region entirely.

While a similar closure in late June passed without major disruptions, this Saturday's protest falls on a peak travel day. Demonstrators are voicing concerns that a planned tunnel, intended to replace the most challenging section of the route, will ultimately increase traffic volume. They note that approximately 20,000 vehicles already use the route on Saturdays.

Regional authorities in Tyrol, however, view the planned 1.4-kilometer, three-lane Fernpasstunnel, slated to begin construction in 2026/2027 and finish by 2030, as beneficial. They contend the tunnel will not increase the route's capacity, especially with existing restrictions on trucks over 7.5 tons. The project, part of a larger "Fernpass package" involving further construction, is estimated to cost at least 160 million euros, with a proposed toll of 14 euros expected to cover repayment of loans for the package, which has a total investment plan of at least 500 million euros.