The demonstration has begun

Total roadblock in effect: First vacationers forced to turn back

Since the start of the total blockade at the Brenner Pass, traffic conditions have been surprisingly calm. While the protest is underway, the highways and alternate routes remain unusually empty in many places.(Bild: Krone-Collage/Christof Birbaumer, APA/EXPA/ JOHANN GRODER)

The Brenner Highway (A13) has been completely closed since 11 a.m. due to a protest. While warnings of massive traffic chaos had been issued beforehand, the situation has so far been eerily quiet. According to eyewitnesses, some cafés near the Brenner are already considering closing early because there are hardly any customers around.

“Everything is very relaxed. There is much less traffic than on a normal Saturday,” said a spokesperson for the police traffic department on Saturday morning. On the Brenner Highway (A13), one of Europe’s most important north-south connections, the feared traffic surge has so far failed to materialize. 

The first vacationers have already had to turn back.(Bild: Christof Birbaumer)

(Bild: Philipp Neuner)

A few vacationers from Germany had to turn around at the toll booth or before the Brenner Pass. “What’s this strike about?” asked a surprised driver who was suddenly stopped.

Some drivers had to turn back:

The situation north of the restricted zone is particularly striking: at the Kufstein-Kiefersfelden border, there is an almost eerie calm. On the German A93, there has been hardly any traffic heading toward Tyrol since the early morning hours, and the A12 on the Austrian side also remains unusually clear.

The situation is also unusually quiet on the main access route from Germany.(Bild: Hubert Berger)

At 1 p.m., the protest rally has now begun as planned. Participants are continuously streaming into the area, and it is already getting crowded at times. The procession of demonstrators is expected to set off shortly toward the Matrei chain-fitting station next to the highway. Meanwhile, according to initial reports, traffic conditions on the detour routes in Tyrol remain largely calm—in many places, it’s “dead quiet,” though this could still change.

Since the start of the total blockade at the Brenner Pass, traffic conditions have been surprisingly calm. While the protest is underway, the highways and detour routes remain unusually empty in many places.(Bild: Krone-Collage/Christof Birbaumer, APA/EXPA/ JOHANN GRODER)

Family Faces Nearly Empty Roads
A family from Bayreuth is quite surprised; they had actually planned to cruise leisurely on to the Zillertal—and suddenly find themselves facing nearly empty roads: “Yesterday, it felt like half of Germany was on the move toward Tyrol—crazy traffic, gridlock everywhere. And today? Nothing! I never would have thought people would be so sensible and actually avoid the Brenner route.”

Webcams in East Tyrol also show a similar picture: both along the Felbertauern route and in Lienz, there is unusually little traffic for a Saturday.

Situation already unusually quiet before the closure
Even before 11 a.m., the situation was unusually quiet. There were no major traffic jams either at the Schönberg toll plaza or heading toward Matrei. A driving ban for transit trucks had been in effect since 9 a.m. Passenger cars had to turn around at the latest at the toll plaza or at the Brenner Pass. In addition, federal and state roads in the Wipptal valley are also closed to through traffic.

Calm before 11 a.m. also at the Schönberg toll plaza and just before the demonstration site in Matrei:

Schönberg toll plaza(Bild: Philipp Neuner)

A few meters before the demonstration site in Matrei.(Bild: Philipp Neuner)

There are many signs that travelers took the warnings seriously. Numerous vacationers likely postponed their trips or took a wide detour around Tyrol. Especially in South Tyrol, many vacationers reacted flexibly. “Many guests moved their bookings up by a day or postponed them,” reports Klaus Berger, president of the South Tyrolean Hoteliers and Restaurateurs Association.

However, the closure is not without consequences. The ÖAMTC reported traffic jams and stop-and-go traffic as early as this morning, for example in the Salzburg area. Increased traffic is also expected on alternate routes as the day progresses.

The coming hours are considered crucial
The protest rally is taking place between 1:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. It had initially been banned but was later permitted by the Provincial Administrative Court. Whether the current calm will hold remains to be seen. The coming hours are considered decisive—as soon as detour traffic shifts or traffic jams form, the situation could change rapidly.

The State of Tyrol, the police, Asfinag, and numerous other organizations are on high alert. Officials had already presented a package of measures at the end of April and spoke of measures that had never before been implemented in Tyrol on this scale.

Instead of miles-long traffic jams, there was surprisingly little traffic at the Brenner Pass early Saturday morning. The feared traffic avalanche did not materialize before the total closure.(Bild: Christof Birbaumer)

Protest initially banned twice
The protest rally itself is taking place between 1:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. It had initially been banned twice by the district administration but was ultimately permitted by the Tyrolean Provincial Administrative Court.

Much criticism from Germany and Italy
In the run-up to the event, the demonstration had drawn criticism, particularly in Germany and Italy. South Tyrol’s Governor Arno Kompatscher warned of the impact on road users, while Bavaria’s Minister of Transport Christian Bernreiter expressed his displeasure. The action, however, received support from numerous Tyrolean opposition politicians.