General Refurbishment of the Tauern and Katschberg Tunnels

Anyone driving through Austria towards Italy or Croatia sooner or later passes the Tauern Autobahn A 10. The route between Salzburg and Villach is one of the most important north-south connections in the Alpine region and runs, among other things, through the Tauern Tunnel and the Katschberg Tunnel. ASFINAG is planning a refurbishment project there, expected to run from autumn 2027 to 2033, that is unprecedented in scale. Anyone planning this route during those years should therefore start thinking early about what lies ahead on the stretch: around six years characterised by single-lane traffic, speed limits and significantly longer waiting times, especially during holiday periods.

What ASFINAG is planning and what it means for motorists

ASFINAG intends to fully refurbish the Tauern Tunnel and the Katschberg Tunnel, expected to take place from autumn 2027 to 2033. The complete rebuild is planned to take place while traffic continues to flow in several stages, so not as a short construction phase with a full closure, but as a long-term construction site right in the middle of holiday traffic.

Specifically, this means: in the Tauern Tunnel, around 6.8 kilometres long between Flachau and Zederhaus, as well as in the Katschberg Tunnel, around 6 kilometres between St. Michael im Lungau and Rennweg, traffic will be reduced to a single lane during the construction period. One of the two tunnel tubes will be closed at a time, while the other carries all traffic in both directions. Speed limits of 60 to 80 km/h are intended to ensure safety during the works. The last major refurbishment of both tunnels was around 15 years ago, and the load is high: on average, around 24,000 vehicles use the routes daily each year, and according to the operators, this rises to almost 50,000 in the summer months. Precisely for this reason, the upcoming refurbishment will be noticeable for many travellers.

Risk of traffic jams during the holidays: when it gets especially tight

Anyone who has driven the Tauern Autobahn during the holidays before knows how quickly traffic can back up there. During the planned refurbishment phase from autumn 2027 to 2033, this is likely to become even more noticeable. Especially during busy travel periods such as Easter, Ascension Day, Whitsun or Corpus Christi, ASFINAG expects tailbacks of up to 30 kilometres. Anyone travelling during these weeks should therefore not only expect a longer journey time, but should plan the route with a buffer from the outset.

There is some relief during the peak holiday period: a construction break is planned for July and August. During this time, the Tauern Tunnel and the Katschberg Tunnel are expected to be open again with two lanes per direction. Anyone who can arrange their summer holiday flexibly will therefore have at least one period during which the route is closer to the usual traffic flow. Regardless of the travel period, it is worth setting off early, following traffic reports and checking ASFINAG's current roadworks information before departure.

Closures, diversions and alternative routes

To prevent too much traffic from diverting onto narrow rural roads, ASFINAG is planning measures similar to those used during the already completed refurbishment of the tunnel chain between Golling and Werfen in June 2025. Along the A 10, driving bans and exit closures are therefore also planned. Even during the preparation phase, night-time and full closures may be necessary, for example for portal conversions or technical tests. Anyone who regularly uses the route should keep such restrictions in mind not only during the actual refurbishment.

An additional access lane is also to be created at the St. Michael im Lungau toll station, with at least one of them free of barriers for vehicles with digital route tolls. This is intended to relieve traffic flow towards the Katschberg Tunnel when longer tailbacks form in front of the tunnel.

Anyone wishing to avoid the Tauern Autobahn has several alternatives. On a larger scale, the Felbertauernstraße (B 108), the Pyhrn Autobahn (A 9) and the Brenner Autobahn (A 13), among others, run through or around the Alps. There too, increased traffic is to be expected during the holidays, so there is hardly a "jam-free" alternative route during peak season. Anyone looking for a more local diversion can use the B 99 via Radstädter Tauern and Katschberg. However, this route is only suitable for cars and lorries up to 7.5 t and requires appropriate winter equipment during the cold season.

For travellers heading to Carinthia, the Tauernschleuse, the car shuttle train between Böckstein and Mallnitz, may also be of interest. According to the ADAC, it has been fully available again since July 2025. However, a five-month closure is planned for early 2027 for a second refurbishment phase, which should also be factored into route planning.

The A 10 has already been in the news several times recently

The announced mega-refurbishment does not stand alone, but forms part of a series of construction sites on the Tauern Autobahn. The tunnel chain between Golling and Werfen was only reopened without construction-related restrictions in June 2025, after around two and a half years of refurbishment. Shortly afterwards, in May 2026, a full closure of the Brentenberg Tunnel in the direction of Salzburg caused considerable diversions following a lorry fire. Such individual events show just how sensitive the route is overall and how quickly day-to-day travel on the A 10 can change.

Anyone wishing to find out about the toll regulations for the tunnels in advance will find detailed background information in our guides on the Tauern Tunnel and the Katschberg Tunnel.

Tolls and trip planning: what you should keep in mind

If you use the Tauern Autobahn, it is worth taking a quick look at the toll regulations in Austria, as several systems apply here. On motorways and expressways, cars, motorcycles and motorhomes up to 3.5 t tzGm (technically permissible total mass without occupants, field F.1 in the vehicle registration document) require a valid vignette. You can conveniently purchase the digital vignette in our online shop, so you can start your holiday perfectly prepared. If the tzGm exceeds 3.5 t, the vignette requirement no longer applies, and instead, larger motorhomes, lorries and buses require a GO-Box for the distance-based toll, which is charged according to kilometres travelled. We explain which rule applies to your vehicle in our guide on vehicle classes.

In addition, Austria has special toll routes, also known as route tolls. This is a separate flat fee for a specific section, such as a tunnel or a mountain pass road. The Tauern Tunnel and Katschberg Tunnel on the A 10 are among these special toll routes. No vignette and no distance-based GO-Box toll are required to pass through these tunnels themselves, as the route toll (special toll) applies here.

However, it is important for your planning to note: the tunnels generally cannot be reached in isolation. The approach and exit routes on the Tauern Autobahn and its feeder roads are, in most cases, subject to the vignette requirement (up to 3.5 t tzGm) or the distance-based toll (over 3.5 t tzGm). Anyone driving on toll sections without a valid vignette or GO-Box risks having to pay a replacement toll and/or fines, even if the route toll for the tunnel itself has been paid. An overview of all special toll routes can be found in our article on route tolls and special tolls. Further details on all toll types in Austria can be found in the guide Tolls in Austria.

The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant journey!

We wish you a good drive and relaxed trip planning, even though the Tauern Autobahn will require more patience than usual in the coming years. Feel free to use our route planner for your journey to see which toll products your route requires. For the vignette requirement on motorways in Austria, you can conveniently purchase the digital vignette online from us. If you have any questions, you can reach us at any time by email.