Significant traffic congestion is expected on European transit routes this coming weekend. According to current forecasts from the Austrian Automobile, Motorcycle and Touring Club (ÖAMTC), the start of the school holidays in the populous German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and parts of the Netherlands will lead to increased traffic heading south.
In addition, travel traffic will be increased by a second wave of departures from the western Austrian federal states, which is likely to push the capacities of the main traffic arteries to their limits.
Traffic experts have identified toll plazas, border crossings, and long-term construction zones as the primary bottlenecks. Significant delays are expected on the Brenner Autobahn (A13) near the Lueg Bridge and on the Tauern Autobahn (A10) before the tunnel sections. The Fernpass Road (B179) and the Pyhrn Autobahn (A9) before the Spielfeld border crossing are also considered critical points. In addition to the main southbound traffic, traffic data indicates that the first noticeable return traffic is already beginning northbound, which will lead to congestion, especially from Saturday afternoon onwards, at German border crossings such as Walserberg and Kufstein.
Authorities in the Austrian states of Tyrol and Salzburg are emphasizing that existing exit and through-traffic restrictions on the secondary road network will be strictly enforced, despite suggestions from navigation systems to the contrary. These measures are intended to prevent diverted traffic from blocking the infrastructure of the adjacent communities. Furthermore, a major regional event in Styria is causing local disruptions: the Rallye Weiz will require temporary closures on the secondary road network on Friday and Saturday, as well as patience on the Weizer Straße (B72).
Traffic experts advise travelers to avoid peak traffic times on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings or to travel at night. Since summer temperatures further exacerbate traffic congestion, drivers are strongly advised to carry sufficient drinks and to have their vehicles inspected before starting their journey. Experience from previous years shows that unforeseen breakdowns in construction zones often cause traffic jams to multiply significantly in a short period.