Austria protests block Fern Pass road amid anti‑tourism traffic campaign

On Saturday, June 27‑28 2026, protesters in Austria closed the Fern Pass (B179) road as part of a larger anti‑tourist‑traffic movement that had earlier shut the Brenner Pass. About 700 demonstrators, organized by a local civil initiative, blocked both sides of the mountain pass and demanded that planned traffic‑management measures – including new tunnel projects and a toll system – be dropped. They argue the schemes would worsen congestion and impose a financial burden on residents, calling instead for shifting transit traffic to rail.

The Austrian Automobile Club (ÖAMTC) monitored the situation, reporting only modest 30‑minute delays on the nearby B177. Authorities advised drivers to use alternative routes between 10 am and 12 pm. The protest coincided with the start of the summer holidays, a period that typically brings heavy north‑south traffic toward Germany via the A7.

Local authorities noted the possibility of higher traffic volumes in the coming days and have not yet indicated whether further road closures will be permitted.