The Fern Pass will be closed for two hours on Saturday morning as demonstrators protest heavy transit traffic and a proposed bypass tunnel, with officials warning of long tailbacks on the Germany–Austria–Italy corridor. Several hundred protesters are expected and organisers say about 20,000 vehicles use the route on Saturdays. Tyrol supports a 1.4 km, three‑lane tunnel to replace 4.8 km of winding road, with construction planned for 2026–27 to 2030 and tunnel works estimated at a minimum of €160 million. The wider Fern Pass package requires at least €500 million and would be partly funded by a €14 toll; the ban on lorries over 7.5 tonnes is set to remain.
Fern Pass Shutdown: Two-Hour Closure Planned as Protest Targets Busy Alpine Transit Route
FILE PHOTO - Protesters carrying a sign that reads, "Tolls divide families and friends- visits must not become a luxury!" are marching in a demonstration along the closed B179 Fern Pass Road in Austria toward a rally. (is associated with: «Austrian pass to be blocked for two hours as protesters target traffic») Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa
Authorities have warned that Austria's Fern Pass will be closed for two hours on Saturday morning as demonstrators stage a protest on the busy north–south corridor linking Germany, Austria and Italy. Motorists are strongly advised to avoid the area as long tailbacks are likely, particularly with the start of summer school holidays in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
A short, similar closure at the end of June caused little disruption, but officials say this demonstration coincides with heavier holiday traffic, increasing the potential for delays. Several hundred protesters are expected to take part; organisers say they are acting against the high volume of transit traffic that uses the route.
Why Protesters Are Opposed
Protesters object both to the sheer number of vehicles and to a planned tunnel project intended to bypass the most hazardous stretch of the pass. They argue the tunnel would attract more traffic rather than reduce it. Demonstrators estimate that roughly 20,000 vehicles already use the route on Saturdays.
Scope Of The Closure
The temporary closure applies to the Fern Pass and also to the nearby Hahntennjoch Pass, potentially amplifying disruption for travellers and freight operators in the region. Authorities recommend using alternative routes and allowing extra travel time if travel is unavoidable.
The Tunnel Proposal
The state of Tyrol supports the tunnel proposal, which is scheduled to begin in 2026–27 and to be completed in 2030. The plan would replace 4.8 kilometres of winding mountain road with a 1.4-kilometre, three-lane tunnel through the Fern Pass to improve the driving line and reduce the most dangerous sections.
At the pass summit of 1,210 metres, the tunnel would cut the altitude change drivers must navigate to about 70 metres inside the bore instead of roughly 200 metres on the existing road. Officials estimate the tunnel work will cost at least €160 million (about $184 million).
Funding, Capacity And Impact
The tunnel is part of a broader "Fern Pass package" of construction measures that requires a minimum investment of €500 million. The corresponding loan is expected to be repaid from receipts of a future tunnel toll set at €14. Tyrol maintains that the tunnel will not increase the route's capacity because the existing ban on lorries over 7.5 metric tons will remain in force.
Travel Advice: If you plan to travel through the region on Saturday morning, consider delaying your journey, using an alternative route, or checking local traffic updates and public advisories before you depart.
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