Brenner, damage of half a billion a year from traffic restrictions

The closure of the A22 arranged today in Austria for one environmentalist demonstration it adds to an already critical situation for the freight and passenger traffic along the Brenner corridor. According to Uniontrasporti estimates, the limitations imposed by the Land of Tyrol and the construction sites on the Lueg Bridge generate an economic impact estimated at 544 million euros per year for the Italian production and logistics system.

In addition to the 370 million euros attributed to the bans imposed by the Land of Tyrol, 174 million euros are linked to the renovation works of the Lueg Bridgein Austrian territory. According to studies by the consortium company of the Italian chamber of commerce system, the restrictions introduced on the Austrian side have reduced the transport capacity ofBrenner axis by around 50%, causing economic damage which has reached this level in the last five years 1.8 billion euros. “The night-time transit ban reduces the potential of the infrastructure by approximately 32%, the weekend ban by 16% and a further 2% is caused by specific bans for some heavy vehicles and by the traffic metering system”. The limitations, according to Uniontrasporti, produce effects that go beyond the higher costs for businesses and road transport.

“Such limitations create road congestion and, paradoxically, a major air and noise pollutionas well as greater risks of accidents.”

Construction sites and capacity reduction

Since January 2025 the picture has become further complicated with the start of work on Lueg Bridgeone of the main crossing points of the Brenner motorway. The reduction in available capacity, with only one lane in each direction for heavy traffic and two lanes in periods of greatest influx for light traffic, resulted in an additional cost estimated at 174 million euros per yearof which 93.5 million for freight transport and 80.5 million for passengers.

About the 10% of flows it was also diverted towards the Gotthard, San Bernardino and Tarvisio passes.

Risks for traffic and territory

The impact of today’s closure could also extend to traffic on the June 2 bridge. From the “Analysis of resilience of the crossing system” carried out by Uniontrasporti for Unioncamere, the risk emerges of a part of the vehicles spilling onto the Brenner state road 12 and onto secondary roads in the area, with a consequent increase in congestionfrom the emissions and possible negative effects on tourism activities and the local economy.