Chaos on the A10

Tennengau SPÖ candidates call for traffic jam solution

If the A10 is overcrowded, the traffic jams through the town centers like here in Golling.(Bild: ANDREAS TROESTER)

So far, little or nothing has been done about the traffic jam chaos on the Tauern freeway and in the surrounding communities, criticize the Tennengau SPÖ mayors and the red candidates for the upcoming run-off elections in Oberalm and Puch. They are making clear demands: more controls and a metering system.

Easter time, vacation time, time for really long traffic jams! Over the Palm weekend, there will once again be massive delays around the tunnel construction site on the Tauernautobahn (A10). And not just on the A10: drivers and residents will also need a lot of patience on the alternative routes through the municipalities in Tennengau and Pongau.

SPÖ candidates "with one voice against traffic jams"
The mayoral run-off elections in Oberalm and Puch are also scheduled for Palm Sunday - the two SPÖ candidates are going on the offensive just beforehand. Christian Haslauer and Barbara Schweitl hosted a joint press conference on Wednesday. The duo received support from two party colleagues: Hallein's mayor Alexander Stangassinger was also present, as was Golling's Bald-Ortschef Martin Dietrich. Under the slogan "With one voice against the traffic jam chaos", they made several demands to the ÖVP Transport Minister Stefan Schnöll.

Extension of exit barriers and metering system
The SPÖ quartet wants the exit barriers from the highway to be extended as quickly as possible. These should already apply from Salzburg-Süd and be much more strictly controlled than before. They are also calling for a metering system at the Walserberg border crossing. In other words, only as many vehicles should be allowed onto the Tauernautobahn at the same time as the road system can actually cope with. And: The Social Democrats are calling for smaller municipalities to be given more leeway. If necessary, a change in the law is needed to quickly and unbureaucratically close typical alternative routes for vacationing cars.

Barbara Schweitl: "Protecting the entire region"
"It's not just about relieving our roads in Puch, but also about protecting the entire region," says mayoral candidate Barbara Schweitl. She can't resist a side blow: "We believe that little or nothing has been done by the responsible authorities so far." Her party colleague from Oberalm is even clearer: "A mayor should stand behind the population and not duck away and kowtow to the provincial council in a situation like this."