2024-02-24 13:40:36
After the heavy snowfall on Friday and the closure of the Tyrolean Brenner motorway (A13) for hours, the road closures were largely lifted on Saturday. In the morning, Brenner Straße (B182) and Villgratentalstraße (L273) were opened to traffic after reconnaissance flights. The climate activist group “Last Generation” once again caused a blockade on the Brenner motorway.
As the “Tiroler Tageszeitung” reported online, climate activists blocked the road in the direction of Brenner between the Schönberg toll booth and the Matrei-Steinach junction in the morning. After around half an hour, the unannounced meeting was broken up at 10:50 a.m. and the street was reopened to traffic, a police spokesman told APA. Around 20 people – including musicians – were involved in the blockade. Six people sat down on the road and one activist stuck himself on.
The dissolution had been ordered by the authorities. Some of the activists had left the motorway on their own, it was said. In the afternoon, the executive announced that appropriate reports would be filed. On Saturday, however, the Brenner motorway was not the first time the destination of the “Last Generation”. Its members have already brought traffic there to a standstill twice.
The action also attracted political anger. “Yesterday’s nerve-wracking snow chaos is being followed today by negligent chaos,” said State Security Councilor Astrid Mair (ÖVP) angrily to the APA and described the approach as “irresponsible and dangerous” given the “challenging traffic situations”. The federal government “will not be able to avoid harsher penalties for climate adhesives,” she called for consequences.
FPÖ state party chairman Markus Abwerzger also held the federal government – namely Justice Minister Alma Zadic (Greens) – accountable. The activists “can no longer be under the protective cover of the minister, but these chaotic people must be combated effectively legally.” Given the congestion of holidaymakers and the risk of avalanches, the blockade borders on “intentionally endangering the community”. “What would have happened if emergency services had urgently needed the highway?” Abwerzger asked.
However, there was free travel on other Tyrolean roads after the snowfall. In addition to Brenner Strasse and Villgratentalstrasse, Naviser Strasse (L228) in the Innsbruck-Land district was reopened to traffic after the Avalanche Commission meeting. The Zillertalstrasse (B169) between Ginzling and Mayrhofen, the Nösslacher Strasse (L231) between Gries am Brenner and Obernberg, the Valser Strasse (L230) between St. Jodok and Peter Franzens (both Innsbruck-Land district) and the Felbertauern toll road were also built Approved.
The rainfall on Friday, which brought up to 70 centimeters of fresh snow in places, led to chaos on Tyrol’s roads. The Brenner motorway had to be closed from midday until 10 p.m. The closure stretched back from the Innsbruck-Amras motorway junction to the Brenner Pass.
According to the state, the obstructions were caused by several “poorly equipped heavy vehicles” that got stuck on the highway. Other trucks tried to overtake these vehicles and also got stuck. These truck drivers used the second and third lanes despite driving and overtaking bans. The path was blocked for cars and especially clearing vehicles and it was no longer possible to get through.
As a result, more than 150 heavy vehicles had to be towed individually over a section of around three kilometers – with continued snowfall – at great expense. 300 people who were stuck in a traffic jam for up to ten hours were looked after by numerous emergency services.
The fresh snow had also increased the risk of avalanches. In large parts of Tyrol, the avalanche warning level was 4 on the five-point scale, meaning there was “great danger”. Warnings have been issued about spontaneous avalanche activity that can be easily triggered. The avalanche warning service called on athletes to exercise extreme restraint at the weekend.
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