Traffic Restrictions on Austria's Highways in Winter
From 19 December 2024 until 30 March, exit bans on the Tauern Motorway (A10) will be activated. Due to increased traffic volumes during the Christmas holidays, winter travel traffic frequently diverts to the municipalities along the motorway. To keep through traffic away from these areas, the exits at Hallein, Kuchl and Golling will be closed. Only residents and travellers with a specific destination within a radius of 20 km around Hallein, 15 km around Kuchl and 35 km around Golling may use these exits.
Added to this is ski tourism as well as construction works in the Hiefler and Ofenauer tunnels near Golling (Tennengau) and the Werfen tunnel complex (Pongau). Significant traffic jams and delays are therefore to be expected, particularly on Saturdays. In addition to the A10, heavy traffic and possible delays are also anticipated on the Pinzgauer Straße (B311) in the Salzach Valley and on the minor German corner route between Bad Reichenhall and Lofer (Pinzgau).
Additional restrictions are also in place in Tyrol. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., a ban on through traffic applies from 21 December to 27 April in the districts of Kufstein, Reutte and Imst. On Saturdays, this ban also affects the district of Schwaz.
In Vorarlberg, on- and off-ramp closures apply to all vehicles during the Christmas holidays. This affects the Arlberg Expressway (S16) from 21 to 28 December, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. The affected junctions are Bings, Braz-West, Braz-Ost and Langen am Arlberg. If you plan to travel on any of these routes, especially the A10, you should allow extra time.
