Construction site at the Brenner Pass 2025: Renovation of the Lueg Bridge begins
Since the beginning of 2025, travellers to Italy have had to be patient. The reason – the renovation of the Lueg Bridge on the Brenner. Until 2030, there will therefore be some considerable restrictions on the Brenner motorway. We have all the information for you.
Renovation of the Lueg Bridge on the Brenner Pass by 2030
The Lueg Bridge is the longest bridge on the Brenner motorway in the Wipp Valley and is already 55 years old. Since it is close to the Austrian-Italian border, it is very busy and no longer safe for traffic. Therefore, renovation is essential. Construction work began on 1 January 2025 and is expected to last until the end of 2030.
In order to be able to carry out the renovation properly, only one lane is available in both directions for the most part. In addition, the speed in the construction site area is limited to 60 km/h. Travelers must be prepared for traffic jams and major time delays.
The Brenner construction site will also be a challenge for the logistics industry. Around 2.5 million trucks drive over the Lueg Bridge every year. Delivery delays and costs are expected, as just-in-time deliveries can no longer be guaranteed. Due to expected congestion on the motorway, 14 additional truck driving ban days for vehicles over 7.5 tonnes have been introduced southbound - a total of 36 driving ban days. Trucks are not allowed to drive northbound for around 21 days.
Despite the construction work, the Brenner toll, the vignette in Austria and the toll in Italy are still necessary.
Overview: Closure of the carriageway at the Brenner Pass
The Austrian motorway company has issued a detailed plan of how the Luegbrücke will be used from 1 January 2025. To avoid huge chaos during the peak travel season as much as possible, the bridge is open to traffic in two lanes 170 days a year. We'll tell you who is allowed to drive, when and how:
- In principle, only one lane will be passable in both the south and north directions from 1 January 2025.
But there are reliefs. We now give you an overview of the driving options to the south and north in 2025, both for cars and trucks:
Driving south
There are various restrictions to the south on the following days:
Single lane with truck driving ban:
January 11 + 18
In case of snowfall, one lane with truck driving ban, otherwise two lanes:
All Saturdays from 25 January to 15 March inclusive
In case of snowfall, one lane without truck driving ban, otherwise two lanes:
February: 16 February;
March: 2 + 9 March;
December: December 9
Two-lane with truck driving ban:
April: April 12 + April 17-19;
June: 2 + 7 + 14 + 18 + 21 + 26 June;
July/August: all Saturdays in July and August;
October: October 2
Two lanes without truck driving ban:
April: 10 + 11 April, 13-16 April, 22 + 23 April, 26 April, 28-30 April;
May: 1 May, 10+11 May, 16-18 May, 21-27 May, 29-31 May;
June: 1 June, 3-6 June, 8-13 June, 15-17 June, 19+20 June, 22-25 June, 27-30 June;
July: 1-4 July, 6-11 July, 13-18 July, 20-25 July, 27-31 July;
August: 1 August, 3-8 August, 10-15 August, 17-22 August, 24-29 August, 31 August;
September: 1-5 September, 7-12 September, 14-19 September, 21-26 September, 28-30 September;
October: 1 October, 3-5 October, 11+12 October, 18 October, 24+25 October, 27-29 October
Northbound travel
On the following days you have to expect various restrictions to the north:
Single lane with truck driving ban:
January 11 + 18
In case of snowfall, one lane with truck driving ban, otherwise two lanes:
All Saturdays from 25 January to 15 March inclusive
In case of snowfall, one lane without truck driving ban, otherwise two lanes:
February: 7 + 21 + 28 February;
March: 4-7 March, 9 + 14 + 16 March, 22 + 23 March, 29 March;
November: 1+2 November
Two-lane with truck driving ban:
April: 18 April
July/August: all Saturdays in July and August;
October: October 3
Two lanes without truck driving ban:
April: 5 + 12 April, 19-27 April;
May: 3+4 May, 10+11 May, 16-18 May, 30+31 May;
June: 1 June, 4-30 June;
July: 1-4 July, 6-11 July, 13-18 July, 20-25 July, 27-31 July;
August: 1 August, 3-8 August, 10-15 August, 17-22 August, 24-29 August, 31 August;
September: all days
October: 1+2 October, 4+5 October, 11+12 October, 18+19 October, 24-26 October, 31 October
Departure ban even in traffic jams
If you're thinking now, no problem, then I'll leave the Brenner motorway and go through the surrounding communities, we have to disappoint you. There is a strict driving ban in Austria to protect the residents of the neighboring communities and prevent congestion.
To ensure this, seven barrier systems will be erected to close the exits if necessary. There will also be metering traffic lights on the Brenner federal road, which runs parallel to the motorway. Depending on the traffic situation, only a certain number of cars will be allowed through there.
The ban on departures has been in place on weekends and public holidays for several months now. A random check was carried out and if the reason for the departure was not classified as credible, this resulted in a fine of 220 euros. It is not yet clear whether this will continue to be imposed.
View current traffic jams at the Brenner Pass
If you want to know how much traffic jam there is at the Brenner Pass, you can either listen to the traffic news on the radio or, for example, check the traffic jam reports at the ADAC.
Current progress in the renovation of the Lueg Bridge
Preparations are currently underway and the actual construction work will begin in spring 2025. The plan is to build a second bridge with two lanes parallel to the Lueg Bridge. As soon as this is completed, all traffic will be diverted over this new bridge so that the old Lueg bridge can be demolished. After the demolition, the construction of a second bridge will begin.
Major restrictions are to be expected by the end of 2027, because only by then will the essential basic renovations have been completed to such an extent that two-lane traffic will be possible again.
Brenner construction site: How to avoid the Brenner closure
The easiest bypass would be the Brenner federal road, which runs parallel to the motorway. But since overloads are also expected here, the already mentioned metering traffic lights are used - so you are just as stuck in a traffic jam here as on the highway.
Therefore, only a large-scale bypass makes sense. The following detours are possible:
- Gotthard
- San Bernardino
- Tauern motorway
- Reschen Pass
Attention: There will also be frequent closures at the Reschen Pass, as construction work is also being carried out there. Overall, the aforementioned bypasses are already extremely busy without the vehicles diverted from the Brenner Pass. There will certainly be traffic jams here as well.
Depending on where you start from, the Felbertauernstraße or the Phyrn motorway can also be considered for a bypass. It is not advisable to take an alternative route over the Timmelsjoch or the Stallersattel. In winter, the passes are closed and even in summer, the steep roads with partly single-lane roads are not ideal. Motorhomes are only allowed to drive there to a limited extent.
Further construction sites on the Brenner motorway in 2025
In addition to the renovation of the Lueg Bridge, there are no further construction sites on the Brenner motorway for the time being. From 2040, the Europabrücke will then be renovated, but there is still enough time until then.