Rehabilitation and closure of Arlberg Tunnel

According to exemptions, lorries with trailers and articulated vehicles may use the Arlberg Pass if their journeys meet the exemption requirements. These exemptions will be in place between Sunday 10:00 pm and Saturday 9:00 am as follows:

Due to the closure of the S 16 Arlberg Tunnel, road traffic will be diverted via the Arlberg Pass Road from 15.04. to 22.11.2024. Due to the expected additional traffic volume during the peak travel season, cycling is again banned on the B 197/L 197 between Langen station or St. Anton (Mooserkreuz) to the pass summit in St. Christoph. This ban applies only to cyclists going uphill in the period from 15.04. to 22.11.2024.
This means that St. Christoph am Arlberg can no longer be reached uphill by bicycle. This ban also applies to cyclists coming from Lech-Warth over the Flexen Pass in the direction of Tyrol. During this time, a shuttle service will be set up from St. Anton and Langen for cyclists.

For cyclists, a shuttle service will be set up from St. Anton and Langen during this time.

The validity of annual toll passes for the S 16 Arlberg expressway is automatically extended by the period of the closure if the card's area of validity covers the period of one of the two full closures. This ensures that customers do not suffer any disadvantage when purchasing an annual toll pass due to the full closures.

Conserving resources is of paramount importance to us, even on a construction site of this dimension. For the 23,500 cubic meter concrete road surface, we therefore rely on recycling. Some 60 percent of the old road surface are reused and installed on site after the material has been processed in a mixing plant. Because no landfill areas are required and most of the recycling takes place on site, waste and truck journeys are significantly reduced. Wood is increasingly used as a building material for the structural engineering in the area of the toll plaza. This also applies to the pedestrian bridge for customers at the toll plaza.

Why is a closure of the tunnel necessary at all?

The rehabilitation of the Arlberg Tunnel, which has been in operation for 45 years, also includes the complete renewal of the road surface, drainage system and tunnel lining. Without these facilities, safe travel through the tunnel or work safety cannot be guaranteed. For this reason, we have done everything we can to make these necessary closures as short as possible, as was the case most recently in 2015/2017 and 2023 now in 2024. In particular, for reasons of occupational safety and the partial lack of safety technology in the course of implementing the necessary measures, no traffic can pass through the tunnel during the activities.

May I take my car across the Arlberg Pass?

During the full closure, cars may use the Arlberg Pass Road (B 197/L 197) without restriction. There are only restrictions that apply to cars with trailers exceeding 750 kilograms (maximum permissible weight). Between 1.7. and 6.10.2024 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays between 9 am and 5 pm these must use the long-distance diversions via Germany, Fern Pass or Switzerland.

May I take my motorhome across the Arlberg Pass in summer?

Motorhomes without a trailer can use the Pass at any time without restriction. On the other hand, caravans with trailers exceeding 750 kilograms (maximum permissible weight) have to divert via Germany, Fern Pass or Switzerland on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays between 9 am and 5 pm from July 1 to October 6, 2024.

Will my arrival for the winter vacation 2024 affected by the closure?

No – we also take the needs of the Arlberg tourist area into consideration during the second full closure. For this reason, the closure will not begin until mid-April – i.e. after the end of the main winter season 2024. This ensures that the current winter season is not affected in terms of arrival and departure.

Will my journey to the summer vacation in the tourist region Arlberg (St. Anton, St. Christoph, Lech Zürs, Stuben) 2024 affected by the closure?

No – travel to the destinations in the Arlberg tourist region is possible at any time, as the Arlberg Pass route is unrestricted in both directions (from the direction of Vorarlberg and from the direction of Tyrol). The closure of the Arlberg tunnel therefore has no effect in terms of closure or accessibility of these regions.

What do I have to keep in mind when travelling on the Arlberg Pass Road during the closure?

Especially on weekends, a higher traffic volume is to be expected on this stretch. This can lead to delays. We therefore advise you to allow more time when driving over the Pass. Basically, the Arlberg Pass Road has a gradient of up to 13 percent – this should also be taken into account when driving. Our safety tip: Adjust your speed and leave a sufficient safety distance.

Why doesn't ASFINAG build a second tube at the Arlberg Tunnel? 

We are a purely user-financed company and do not receive any subsidies from the state budget apart from the revenue from vignettes, truck and route tolls. The Arlberg Tunnel is currently used by some 8,000 vehicles every day. Even in the forecast, this stretch does not reach the value of 20,000 vehicles per day on average (sum of both directional lanes). Only above this frequency is the construction of a second tube mandatory under the Road Tunnel Safety Act. Irrespective of this, we are investing around 75 million Euros to improve safety for 8,000 motorists every day.

Do I have to play toll for the Arlberg Pass as a regional alternative route?

No. The Arlberg Pass is neither a motorway nor an expressway and can be used without additional tolls.