Persistent Traffic Congestion and On-going Construction on the Brenner and Tauerna Highways: The Prolonged Commute to Italy
Traffic Challenges on Austria's Brenner and Tauern Motorways
The Brenner motorway (A13) and the Tauern motorway (A10) in Austria are currently experiencing significant traffic issues, with construction work and high summer holiday traffic causing bottlenecks, particularly near toll stations and tunnels.
Current Traffic Issues
On the Brenner motorway, traffic jams are a common sight, especially in front of the Schönberg toll station and the construction area near the Lueg bridge. The Tauern motorway faces congestion near Salzburg, at the St. Michael toll plaza, and at the entrances of the Tauern and Katschberg tunnels.
To manage traffic, exit bans have been introduced on parts of the A10 in the Salzburg region. These bans aim to prevent motorists from avoiding motorway traffic jams by diverting onto local roads. However, vehicles with destinations in Salzburg are exempted.
Future Traffic Expectations
As the peak summer holiday season continues (late July 2025), traffic jams are expected to intensify on these transit routes, especially on Saturdays around noon to late afternoon. Authorities and experts advise avoiding Saturdays for travel if possible or to depart very early or late in the day to avoid the peak congestion periods.
Alternative Routes
For the Tauern motorway, drivers can avoid toll tunnels by taking an alternative route via Rennweg and Katschberg. This detour is longer and slower but bypasses the toll sections.
Similarly, for the Brenner motorway, alternative routes around the Brenner toll section exist, though specifics were not provided in the available information. These routes typically involve state roads that bypass the toll motorway but are slower.
Looking Ahead
Holiday periods like Easter and Pentecost could be particularly critical for travel due to the limited capacity on the Tauern Motorway. Comprehensive renovations on the Tauern and Katschberg tunnels will begin in autumn 2027 and last until 2033, during which only one lane per direction will be available for years.
Construction work is also underway at the Golling Tunnel on the Tauern Motorway, expected to be completed by summer 2025. However, the renovation of the Lueg bridge on the Brenner motorway has been causing significant disruptions and will remain a bottleneck at least until 2030. Other bridges, such as the Europabridge and the Gschnitztal bridge, need renovation in the coming decades, with an end not expected until at least 2044.
In summary, holidaymakers traveling to Italy through Austria on the Brenner (A13) and Tauern (A10) motorways face significant delays near toll stations and tunnels due to construction and high traffic volume, especially on Saturdays. Exit bans on the A10 reduce local road congestion but limit detours. To reduce toll costs and avoid some congestion, travelers can use longer, non-toll alternative routes via Rennweg/Katschberg for the Tauern motorway, and similarly bypass the Brenner toll section on parallel roads.
Lifestyle Changes
To minimize travel-related stress during peak holiday seasons, travelers may consider altering their departure times or routes, such as avoiding Saturdays or taking the longer, non-toll detours via Rennweg/Katschberg for the Tauern motorway and bypassing the Brenner toll section.
General News
Cars passing via the Brenner (A13) and Tauern (A10) motorways in Austria should be aware of extensive bridge renovations and tunnel works planned for the next decade, particularly the Lueg bridge on the Brenner motorway and the upcoming renovations on the Tauern and Katschberg tunnels, which will impact travel times significantly.
