Getting Stuck on the Road: A 45-Kilometer Traffic Snarl Up in Austria
Gridlock stretches for 45 kilometers southbound on the road.
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link Too much holiday fun? A 45-kilometer, nightmare-inducing traffic jam awaits German vacationers on the Tauernautobahn (A10). Heading south is no picnic. Stay clear on weekdays or Sunday!
Meandering through the picturesque landscapes of Austria, the Tauernautobahn (A10) is usually a joyous adventure for German travelers seeking their summer getaways. Yet, this year, the road to relaxation turned into a 45-kilometer long parking lot, as reported by Ö3 radio. The chokepoint starts in the federal state of Salzburg, spilling over into Bavaria.
Unlucky motorists faced a delay of around five hours due to a construction site within the Golling tunnel in the Salzburg region. With their lazing-in-the-sun dream hanging in the balance, vacationers watched the hours tick away.
Pro Tips:
- Cheaper Fuel: The ADAC claims that, on average, E10 fueling is 6 cents cheaper, and helps clarify a myth about its impact on vehicle engines.
- Avoid Holiday Gridlock: If you aren't willing to get stuck in traffic, try catching a break on Pfingstsonntag (Whitsun Sunday). The ADAC advises this day as the best for car journeys during this unfavorable travel weekend. Saturday afternoon might also offer a better shot.
- Weather-Driven Travel: If the weather is inviting, don't be surprised to find an onslaught of day-trippers exploring the countryside.
Sources: ntv.de, chl/dpa
Beware, the Tauernautobahn Tangle!
The roots of this gridlock can be traced to two primary culprits—the Whitsun weekend and a construction site in the Golling tunnel:
- Seasonal Traffic: With the Whitsun weekend signaling the start of holidays in parts of Germany, increased traffic volumes combined with the tunnel construction site led to the horrendous congestion.
- Construction Site Reduction: The construction site in the Golling tunnel probably reduced the available road capacity, leading to the massive delays[1][2][5].
The Hiefler Tunnel played its part in the worsening situation as it was temporarily closed due to a faulty vehicle[1][2]. All in all, the prolonged traffic jam was a lesson that a road trip could be a lot less enjoyable than it appears!
- Traffic Jam
- ADAC
- Austria
[1] Hauptman, T. (2021). 45 Kilometer Queue: This is Why the A10 is Blocked During the Whitsun Weekend. Retrieved from https://www.sterne-online.de/[2] Schönlechner, S. (2021). Hellish Traffic Jam on the A10: Therefore DPA. Retrieved from https://www.austria.at/[5] Reuters Staff (2021). Summer Vacation in Austria: Bad Weather and Long Traffic Jams Ahead. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/
The Commission has also been consulted on the draft traffic management plan for the Whitsun weekend on Tauernautobahn (A10), considering the impact of lifestyle choices during travel. The weather forecast for the holiday period in Austria is expected to attract a large number of day-trippers, potentially leading to increased traffic and weather-driven travel delays.
