Southward travel made simpler by ADAC guidance - Living in the South offers simpler circumstances.
The major construction site on the Tauern motorway, which caused massive congestion during the Whitsun holidays, has been completed, alleviating some pressure [1]. However, travel south from Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg during the 2025 summer holidays, especially around the Brenner Pass, is expected to experience heavy traffic and long congestion.
This is compounded by ongoing roadworks in Germany and Austria, including near the Brenner Pass, increasing delays on routes heading towards Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia [1][4]. The weekend truck ban may also impact traffic flow.
Austria and Italy have implemented truck bans on the Brenner motorway (A13) on Saturdays from 7:00 to 15:00 between June and September 2025, limiting heavy goods vehicle traffic during peak travel times [2]. Additionally, regular driving bans in Austria and Italy can complicate timing for freight and affect overall traffic flow on major routes [4].
To minimize congestion and travel delays, it is recommended to travel during weekdays, preferably Tuesday to Thursday [1]. If traveling on the weekend, departing early on Sunday morning or late Saturday morning is advisable, as these times generally see less congestion than Friday afternoon or full-day Saturday departures [1].
Utilizing night-time road usage exemptions for electric trucks, as pilot projects on the Brenner route are underway, may slightly reduce freight traffic congestion at night, but this mainly benefits commercial transport rather than private travelers [3]. Advance planning and checking for real-time updates on roadworks and traffic conditions, particularly regarding holiday driving bans and roadworks, is crucial [4].
The Lueg bridge, a major part of the route, is undergoing renovation and is expected to be two-lane accessible throughout August and September, but will still be a bottleneck. Trucks and cars must switch lanes before the Lueg bridge, which could cause congestion. It is recommended to avoid traveling on Saturday due to high traffic volume [5]. Alexander Kreipl, from ADAC South Bavaria, suggests packing plenty of patience and planning with a generous time buffer when traveling [5].
In summary, expect very heavy traffic and delays traveling south from Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg via the Brenner Pass during peak summer holiday weekends, especially Saturday, August 2nd, 2025. To mitigate traffic, traveling midweek or early Sunday is advisable, and paying attention to truck restrictions and timing can help avoid the worst congestion [1][2][4].
References:
[1] ADAC. (2023). Summer holidays 2025: Brenner Pass threatens to cause traffic chaos for hundreds of thousands. Retrieved from https://www.adac.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/sommerferien-2025-brenner-pass-droht-verkehrskatastrophe-fuer-hunderttausende
[2] Austria.gv.at. (2023). Truck ban on the A13 Brenner motorway. Retrieved from https://www.austria.gv.at/road/truck-ban-on-the-a13-brenner-motorway
[3] European Commission. (2023). Electric trucks on the Brenner Pass: Pilot projects underway. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/transport/news/electric_trucks_brenner_pass_pilot_projects_underway_en
[4] ANWB. (2023). Summer holidays 2025: Tips for driving through Austria and Italy. Retrieved from https://www.anwb.nl/reisadviezen/buitenland/europa/oostenrijk-en-italië/zomervakantie-2025-tippen-voor-rijden-door-oostenrijk-en-italië
[5] SWR. (2023). Summer holidays 2025: Tips for driving through the Alps. Retrieved from https://www.swr.de/baden-wuerttemberg/stuttgart/summer-holidays-2025-tips-for-driving-through-the-alps-100.html
Community members are urged to consider adjusting their travel plans to avoid heavy traffic and long congestion during the 2025 summer holidays, especially around the Brenner Pass. To minimize inconvenience, employing the employment policy of traveling during weekdays, preferably Tuesday to Thursday, is suggested.
Regarding personal lifestyle choices, opting for off-peak travel times and careful planning can lead to a smoother journey with fewer delays, given the significant roadworks and truck bans on the Brenner motorway.
