European holiday travel surge triggers widespread traffic congestion

As schools close for summer, millions of motorists across Europe are expected to hit the roads, creating severe congestion on major routes. In Germany, the A1, A3, A5, A7, A8 and A2 highways, as well as Alpine approaches such as the A8, A93, A95 and A96, are forecast to experience the heaviest traffic, especially on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings. Austria’s north‑south corridors – the A9 (Pyhrn), A10 (Tauern), A11 (Karawanken), A12 (Inntal) and A13 (Brenner) – are also under pressure, compounded by the Weiz rally and a temporary B25 road closure near Ybbs. Switzerland’s Gotthard route and Italy’s Brenner corridor face additional delays, while border checks at several crossings are expected to slow traffic further. The Austrian ARBÖ warns of “very high traffic volumes” on the weekend and advises drivers to start early, travel late, or avoid the peak days altogether. Festival crowds in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands add to the load, making the upcoming weekend one of the most congested travel periods of the year.