The Austrian motorists' club ÖAMTC warns that there will be traffic jams on the Austrian motorways and expressways at the weekend due to heavy holiday travel.

Last weekend, the columns in Salzburg on the Tauern Autobahn (A10) heading south were more than twenty kilometers long. But this weekend there will be even more traffic," fears Alfred Obermayr from the ÖAMTC mobility information. The holidays are beginning in other German federal states and parts of the Netherlands, but experience has shown that many latecomers also leave towards the end of July. In Tyrol, the Brenner Autobahn (A13) and the Fernpass route will be overloaded at times.

According to the ÖAMTC, there will be traffic jams and loss of time at the following border crossings: West Autobahn (A1) Walserberg Pyhrn Autobahn (A9) Spielfeld Karawanken Autobahn (A11) before the Karawanken Tunnel Inntal Autobahn (A12) Kiefersfelden

More stagnation points in detail

Brenner Autobahn (A13) from Innsbruck to the Schönberg toll booth and in South Tyrol before the Vipiteno toll booth. Fernpassstraße (B179) in its entirety. West (A1) and Tauern Autobahn (A10) from Walserberg to Puch, from Hüttau to Flachau and before the St. Michael toll station. Innkreis Autobahn (A8) between the border and town in the Inkreis due to construction work. Pyhrn Autobahn (A9) before St. Pankraz and Überbach.

ÖAMTC congestion advisor Herbert Thaler has a special role to play in the summer travel season. On the Tauern Autobahn, between Hallein and the Zetzenberg tunnel, some construction sites are currently narrowing the roadway over a distance of more than 30 kilometers. Even minor breakdowns can lead to traffic jams stretching for kilometers in these bottlenecks. “We mainly drive through these construction site areas on the A10. Defective vehicles can be reached quickly by motorbike,” says Thaler.

The flight observer from the ADAC partner club also takes off again on the summer weekend. Above all, the greater Munich area, the Tauernautobahn and the Inn Valley are flown. The observations from Germany make it easier to forecast developments at the stagnation points in Austria.

Travel information and preparations important

It is still important to find out about the travel routes before you go on holiday. “Delays on the main transit routes are almost inevitable. Dodging difficult or very time consuming. We currently have 76 roadblocks along the transit routes. These are intended to prevent evasive traffic. It is therefore generally advisable not to leave the main transit routes, mostly motorways, even in traffic jams," informs the ÖAMTC mobility information. Up-to-date information on the holiday countries is also available at www.oeamtc.at/urlaubsservice.

Before you start your journey, you should be prepared for possible traffic jams. "In a car with a full tank of fuel, snacks, enough liquid and a good mood, even delays can't spoil your holiday mood".

Bregenz Festival – traffic jams on the approaches to the floating stage

Until August 21, the Bregenz Festival will once again attract many people interested in culture to Lake Constance. Delays should be planned for on the access roads to the festival grounds. The ÖAMTC recommends using public transport. Festival tickets entitle you to free use of public transport.