Construction on the new Lueg Bridge
After more than 55 years of service, the Lueg Bridge along the A13, the Brenner motorway, had reached the end of its useful life. For reasons of road safety and to relieve the bridge, single lane traffic on the Lueg Bridge is required in both directions as per 1 January 2025. Only this guarantees that the existing bridge can remain in operation safely. Construction on the new Lueg Bridge is set to begin in the spring of 2025, once all permits have been obtained.
Real time travel time information
Single lane traffic on Lueg Bridge
To structurally relieve the existing bridge single lane traffic is required in both directions as per 1 January 2025. To avoid long delays and jams, a temporary second lane will be opened by means of special traffic guidance on days of heavy traffic.
To make sure the bridge allows for two-lane traffic on days of heavy traffic, it is necessary to have heavy vehicles with a weight above 3.5 tonnes use the inner lanes of the bridge. This relieves the superstructure. Scientific test runs have shown that this innovative two-lane traffic guidance works. All vehicles exceeding 3.5 tonnes need to switch to the left and thus, inner, lane. Passenger vehicles can continue to use both lanes as usual.
Two lane traffic is only possible temporarily on days of heavy traffic – starting on January 1, 2025, the Lueg Bridge's regular mode of operation will be single-lane traffic.
When will two-lane traffic be opened on the Lueg Bridge?
Such a flexible traffic guidance will be set up on approx. 170 days a year, depending on demand northbound or southbound. Additionally, there will be measures such as control systems, additional HGV driving bans, section control and additional traffic control systems. A Europe-wide information campaign will be used to communicate all measures comprehensively in other countries.
How does the temporary two-lane traffic work?
Heavy traffic will be diverted from the right onto the left lane by signs upstream from the Lueg Bridge. This makes sure that the biggest loads hit the bridge's centre, effectively relieving it. Passenger vehicles can use both lanes.
For structural reasons, vehicles exceeding 3.5 tonnes must not use the right lane during the time of two-lane traffic. A control system on the right lane makes sure of that. Scales built into the road surface detect if vehicles above 3.5 tonnes are mistakingly using the right lane. In this case, the respective vehicle is diverted before it reaches the bridge, piloted to a parking lot, checked there again and guided to the correct (left) lane.
The three construction stages at a glance
The Lueg Bridge rehabilitation work can be divided into three stages. First, the new superstructure is built, followed by the destruction of the old superstructure. After that, the entire construction project is finished.
Stage 1 - Erection of new superstructure
In Stage 1, a new superstructure is erected in the direction of the valley from the existing bridge. In the future, both carriageways will run on two separated bridge superstructures.
To structurally relieve the existing bridge single lane traffic in both directions is required. On days of heavy traffic, a temporary second lane will be opened by means of special and innovative traffic guidance using crosses.
Temporary two-lane traffic key data:
- Vehicles above 3.5 tonnes (among others HGV and buses) switch to the left lane to pass the bridge along its centre.
- Brenner-bound (South) there will be two-lane traffic on approx. 170 days a year, Innsbruck-bound (North) on 160 days.
Stage 2 - Destruction of the old superstructure
The existing superstructure is destroyed and traffic runs across the new superstructure in two lanes.
Stage3 - Completion
The second superstructure is built and after its completion, traffic runs in both directions on two lanes.
Comprehensive package of measures
To maximise traffic flow during rehabilitation work, ASFINAG has developed a comprehensive package of measures in close collaboration with the State of Tyrol, the responsible authorities and the emergency services. These measures aim to minimise the impact on the local inhabitants and to keep through traffic to a minimum:
ASFINAG is currently creating a comprehensive driving calendar that will contain all required information (from HGV bans to traffic guidance). This calendar is created in cooperation with the State of Tyrol and the federal ministry. This gives all carriers, tourism companies, bus companies and road users a planning tool to be prepared for the situation on site in due time.
To ensure traffic safety and accessibility for emergency services, parts of the Brenner motorway are being rebuilt. Between Matrei and Brenner-Staatsgrenze, the previous three-lane markings on the A 13 will be replaced by two-lane markings.
ASFINAG's traffic surveys show that, despite temporary two-lane traffic, traffic congestion may occur on certain days. To prevent this, further HGV driving bans are required that will be ordered by the responsible federal ministry. According to ASFINAG's current prognosis, however, additional days of restricted HGV traffic will not be required.
On relevant days, there will be additional rolling road offers to provide further capacities to heavy traffic. ASFINAG will once again coordinate this with the responsible authorities.
ASFINAG will set up seven barriers systems on roads lower in the hierarchy to close slip roads on demand, protecting surrounding communities along the Brenner motorway from drivers attempting to avoid the blockage.
To better assess the traffic situation on site, ASFINAG is further expanding its CCTV infrastructure along the route. This also includes the B182 Brenner national highway, making sure that it can be monitored in real time.
ASFINAG is investing twelve million Euros in the expansion of the display systems along the entire access routes and at the Brenner pass itself. The rehabilitation of seven portals of the traffic control system is moved forward while they also receive additional functions, for instance to display HGV driving bans on the second lane. Moreover, ASFINAG is building 17 additional traffic control systems to provide traffic information, dynamically divert traffic and to display driving bans.
In the area of the Nößlach service area and at the Brenner-Nord control station, ASFINAG is building new control infrastructure. Built-in scales are used to control vehicles and in the event of non-compliance, a display and guidance system makes sure that these vehicles are unable to pass the bridge. They are diverted off the A13, checked in parking lots and guided back onto the correct lane via a local guidance system. Trained control personnel is used for this task.
ASFINAG is starting a cross-country information campaign in Europe, focussing on Austria, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. Moreover, extensive coordination work has been going on with all stakeholders from the transport industry, tourism, automobile associations and more.
FAQs
To provide the population and stakeholders from tourism and industry with comprehensive information, ASFINAG has collected frequently asked questions. Here, you can find all answers at a glance!
After more than 50 years of service, the Lueg Bridge has reached the end of its useful life. Completely rebuilding it is the only alternative and needs to happen quickly as external factors, most pressingly salt ingress into its superstructure, has significantly damaged it. It is being rehabilitated to guarantee the safety and further use of the bridge.
ASFINAG's research has showed convincingly that a tunnel at this point on the Brenner motorway would put additional strain on the local population (e.g. drivers avoiding the tunnel due to poor availability). This was confirmed by an international team of experts led by Prof. Bergmeister.
Several reasons speak against a tunnel, among them block admission due to high traffic volumes and the increased risk of HGV fires and breakdowns, resulting in total closure of the motorway or tunnel. There are also no noise-related reasons to build a tunnel.
For a tunnel, all steps - from official procedures to design to environmental compatibility tests - would have to start from zero. Experience shows that this can take between 10 and 15 years.
To minimise impact on the local population and through traffic, measures besides two-lane traffic were designed. These include setting up a control system, additional barrier systems and increases in rolling road offers. You can find details on all measures here.
Single-lane traffic can be terminated once the new superstructure has been erected and commissioned. The earlier construction begins the earlier the structurally required single lane traffic can end.
To structurally relieve the existing bridge traffic is restricted to a single lane per direction. To keep delays to a minimum on days of heavy traffic, innovative traffic guidance is used to provide two lanes.
Yes, both goods (rolling road) and passenger traffic offers will be expanded and capacities increased accordingly.
To protect the neighbouring communities, ASFINAG will build additional gate systems along the A13 to close exits and provide poossible detours if required. Exit closures for transit traffic are being evaluated in coordination with the State of Tyrol and the responsible authorities. Protecting the local population is top priority.
All information is provided on this landing page and is also available in the download section in the form of an information flyer. If you have any further questions, please contact ASFINAG's ombudsperson at A13-ombudsperson@asfinag.at or +43 (0) 50108 99355.
Single- and two-lane traffic regulation will keep delays in supply chains and transports as short as possible. Nevertheless, we recommend to use the ASFINAG website and the forecasting tool provided in early 2025 to gather information on the current traffic situation.
Generally, vehicles exceeding 44 tonnes are banned. During times of two-lane traffic, vehicles exceeding 3.5 tonnes are banned from using the right lane. During times of such traffic guidance, vehicles exceeding 3.5 tonnes must switch to the left lane, thus passing the bridge along its centre. Vehicles below 3.5 tonnes are allowed to use both lanes.
Generally, additional dosing is not required for the erection of the new Lueg Bridge. Some 15 additional HGV-free days are required, however, and provide companies with planning safety.
A comprehensive package of measures incl. single- and two-lane traffic regulation will reduce delays to a minimum. Nevertheless, delays are possible depending on the traffic situation. We therefore recommend gathering information via the ASFINAG website and the forecasting tool before starting your journey.
Yes, the measures taken will keep the Lueg Bridge open at all times, allowing you to reach all valleys and towns in the direction of South and North Tyrol.
ASFINAG will provide real-time information via a forecasting tool. Furthermore, you can find information on two-lane traffic in the Driving Calendar 2025. If you have any further questions, please contact ASFINAG's ombudsperson at A13-ombudsperson@asfinag.at or +43 (0) 50108 99355.
Downloads
- Factsheet Lueg Bridge 18.11.2024 (.pdf, 2.0 MB)