A high level of planning security is now guaranteed - April 24, 2023, the starting signal for work

After the necessary postponement of all planned work in the Arlberg Tunnel by one year, there is now certainty: After the final award of all construction work, the starting signal for the first of a total of two full closures of the Arlberg Tunnel will be given on April 24, 2023. The reason for this is the renewal of the entire roadway in the tunnel, which can no longer be postponed after almost 45 years. Because the roadway has to be rebuilt, ASFINAG is once again activating the diversion option via the Arlberg Pass with the tried-and-tested solution for destination and originating traffic. ASFINAG is investing 75 million euros in renewing the roadway, the tunnel coating and the entire drainage system.

For ASFINAG, there was no alternative to the postponement due to the general conditions. “The result now achieved has shown that we made the right decision 100 percent. In the meantime, the market situation has calmed down, supply chains are guaranteed and the situation with material bottlenecks has eased. We are certain that we will be able to keep to the tight schedule of the announced closures," confirms Andreas Fromm, Managing Director of ASFINAG Bau Management GmbH.

Two full closures are planned for the extensive work in 2023 and 2024 - for 5 and 6 months respectively. The first phase starts after the winter season and well after Easter travel. “We are now intensifying our talks with all those involved again. We are bringing everyone back on board - from neighboring communities, chambers of commerce, authorities and partners - to master the situation. We will also implement other accompanying measures for the period of the closures, which we will discuss with ÖBB and other partners. We know from 2015 and 2017 that our concept with destination and source traffic is a successful one," says Stefan Siegele, Managing Director of ASFINAG Alpenstrassen GmbH.

Renewed invitation to tender has now significantly reduced the risk

The market situation caused by Corona, the Ukraine war and energy bottlenecks caused all work to be postponed. With a new invitation to tender, ASFINAG has now ensured that, together with all construction companies, it is guaranteed that the tunnel closures can be observed. Because: In winter, the Arlberg tunnel is the only weather-independent road connection between Tyrol and Vorarlberg and thus plays an important role in local tourism, in maintaining the supply chain and supply.

Detours take place via the Arlberg Pass or on a large scale

The Arlberg tunnel (S 16 Arlberg expressway) will be closed to traffic for six and five months in the summer months of 2023 and 2024, respectively. The almost 45-year-old road has to be renewed. To this end, the entire drainage and tunnel coating in Austria's longest road tunnel will be renovated and optimized. To this end, after the closures in 2015 and 2017, ASFINAG is once again activating the diversion variant via the Arlberg Pass - with the tried-and-tested solution for destination and origin traffic and large-scale diversions.

Intensive communication planned for traffic solutions

To ensure that traffic can flow over the pass as smoothly and without hindrance, ASFINAG will be launching an intensive information campaign in the coming weeks and months. This should ensure that the transport industry is optimally informed in advance about destination and source traffic solutions and can thus prepare as well as possible for the closures. In addition, ASFINAG will also inform the neighboring communities about all measures in the coming weeks.

https://www.asfinag.at/ueber-uns/presse/pressemeldungen/vergabe-bauleistungen-arlbergtunnel/