New construction of the Lueg bridge on the A 13 Brenner motorway –

by Florian König, maut1.de - 23 December 2024

After more than 55 years, the Lueg Bridge on the A13 Brenner motorway has reached the end of its useful life. After tough disputes about the necessary construction measures, the bridge will only be open to single-lane traffic from 1 January 2025. The new construction of the Lueg Bridge, which will have 2 supporting structures in future, is scheduled to begin in spring 2025.

Single-lane traffic routing on the Lueg Bridge

In order to provide structural safety relief on the Lueg Bridge for the next few years during the construction work, traffic will only be routed in one lane over the section of road from 1 January 2025. For periods with high traffic volumes, such as during holiday periods or the summer months, a temporary two-lane traffic routing on the Lueg Bridge will be possible thanks to a special traffic management system.

In the run-up to the construction work, new road markings were installed and a control system for heavy vehicles was installed at the Nößlach rest area, among other things. In future, all vehicles over 3.5 tonnes will drive on the inside of the Luegbrücke bridge directly above the support pillars and lighter car traffic will also drive in the outside lane for a limited period of time. The fact that the existing Lueg Bridge can continue to operate safely was confirmed in a scientific test in 2024.

When will the Luegbrücke bridge be dual carriageway and how will traffic be regulated?

Together with the province of Tyrol and the ministry, ASFiNAG has developed a driving calendar with driving bans for vehicles over 7.5 t and the planned traffic routing to enable all travellers (transport, tourism or private) to plan all journeys on the A13 Brenner motorway in the best possible way. 

In 2025, two-lane traffic routing will be set up flexibly on the Lueg Bridge on around 170 days - either northbound or southbound, depending on demand. In addition, new measures such as a traffic control system, additional lorry driving bans and section control will be implemented. Comprehensive information on the measures will also be provided in other countries across Europe through a campaign. 

Heavy goods traffic over 3.5 tonnes will be diverted from the normally used right-hand lane to the left-hand lane on the way to the Luegbrücke bridge with the help of traffic signs. Monitoring cameras and a weight check at the Nößlach rest area ensure that the largest traffic load is centred over the supporting pillars on the bridge, thereby relieving the load on the bridge.

Further details about the construction measures

New markings on the A 13 Brenner motorway 

Parts of the A13 Brenner motorway are being resurfaced to improve traffic safety and accessibility for emergency services. Between Matrei and the Brenner state border, the A13 motorway will be re-marked from three lanes to two lanes. 

Regulation of lorry driving bans 

In order to avoid congestion on busy days, further lorry driving bans are necessary, which can be imposed by the responsible ministry. 

Expansion of the "Rolling Road" service 

On certain days, the "Rolling Highway" service is to be extended to provide more capacity for heavy goods vehicles.

Construction of the Luegbrücke control system 

In the area of the Nößlach rest area and at the Brenner-Nord control point, a new control infrastructure with integrated scales will be installed on the route. This will ensure compliance with the designated lanes - heavy traffic over 3.5 tonnes on the inside, light traffic under 3.5 tonnes on both lanes. 

If the wrong lane is used, a display and diversion system ensures that these heavy vehicles cannot pass the bridge and are diverted from the A13 to the correct lane. At the Nößlach car park, these vehicles can be checked again and then re-integrated into the correct lane via a local guidance system.

Measure 2: Metering traffic lights on the B 182 

In order to ensure traffic safety on the B 182 Brennerstraße and keep traffic flowing smoothly, five additional metering traffic lights will be put into operation from 1 January 2025. 

The metering lights in the southbound direction are located: 

• in Mutters (in front of the entrance to the Mutters business park) 
• in Schönberg im Stubaital (after the exit from the Stubai Valley) 
• in Matrei am Brenner (before the Mühlbachl district, travelling south) 
• in Steinach am Brenner (before entering the town, travelling south) 
• in Gries am Brenner (before entering the town, travelling south) 

The metering lights in the northbound direction are located:

• after the Brenner Nord junction 
• in Gries am Brenner (before the entrance to the village)

Measure 3: Public transport 

Public transport is also an important component in mitigating capacity restrictions on the A13 Brenner motorway. To this end, rail services in the Wipptal valley have been expanded: There are 33 transfer-free connections per day and direction between Innsbruck and the Brenner at half-hourly intervals.

In addition, intensive work has been done to expand the bus service in the Wipptal and its side valleys, so that the first bus can be used as early as 5:44 am.

Recommendations for travellers on the A13 Brenner motorway  

• Timely information: Use the latest traffic information and plan your journey accordingly. 
• Alternative route: Consider using alternative routes to the Brenner Pass and the Lueg Bridge to avoid traffic jams. 
• Public transport: In some cases, taking the train or bus can be a sensible alternative.

Conclusion  

The new construction of the Lueg Bridge is a necessary major project to ensure long-term traffic safety and infrastructure on the A13 Brenner motorway. Despite the impending disruptions during the construction period, the new bridge will make an important contribution to improving traffic flow and safety on this important transit route in the future.