A demonstration with a blockade of the Brenner Pass lasting several hours on Saturday aims to set an example against the flood of traffic in the Alpine region. In the morning the traffic situation seemed calm.
May 30, 2026, 08:40May 30, 2026, 08:54
Shortly before the closure of the Brenner route in the Austrian state of Tyrol, the ÖAMTC motorists’ club reported a surprisingly relaxed traffic situation. “It’s quieter than usual at the moment,” said a spokesman, referring to Whitsun travel weekends in previous years. The ÖAMTC traffic jam experts had expected that many travelers would try to drive through Tyrol on Saturday morning, shortly before the closure came into force in the morning.
What is planned?
Around midday, the demonstrators want to meet for a rally near Matrei on the Austrian side of the Brenner Motorway. Therefore, the entire Brenner corridor, including all side streets, will be closed to transit traffic for at least eight hours. As a precaution, the authorities and emergency services are preparing for possible traffic chaos long before the Brenner Pass.
The Bavarian Red Cross is preparing for traffic jam operations between Rosenheim and the Austrian border. In an emergency, helpers on motorcycles could provide water to people stuck in traffic jams, it was said in advance.
The police in southern Bavaria have increased their staff. “We are on duty with the greatest possible strength,” said a spokesman for the Upper Bavaria South Police Headquarters. “Our main goal is to ensure that traffic flows and the emergency lane is kept clear” – so that help can get to the scene quickly in an emergency. It is the largest traffic operation since the Upper Bavaria South Police Headquarters was founded.
What do the police advise?
Bypass Tyrol extensively
Because of the demonstration, the important Alpine crossing and the Brenner motorway (A 13) in Austria will not be accessible to cars and motorcycles from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Local alternative routes are also closed.
On the Italian side of the border pass, the closure applies from 10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. During this time, journeys in the affected region are only permitted for destination and source traffic.
Authorities have called for people to avoid Tyrol on the day of the closure. The ÖAMTC therefore expects heavier travel traffic on the Tauernautobahn (A 10) and the Pyhrnautobahn (A 9) over the course of the day.
In general, the police advised travelers to avoid Tyrol as much as possible on Saturday. However, a serious assessment of how the traffic situation will actually develop is not possible in advance. There were no major traffic disruptions on the Brenner Pass the day before the closure.
What is the reason for the demo?
The demonstration is initiated by the mayor of the municipality of Gries am Brenner, Karl Mühlsteiger. He said in advance that it was an unmistakable signal that the 15,000 residents of the Brenner region no longer wanted to accept the flood of traffic that had been increasing for decades. People suffered from the health risks caused by noise and particulate matter. Under no circumstances should the existing driving bans for trucks be relaxed at night or on weekends and public holidays. He also calls for the construction of modern noise barriers.
(sda/dpa)