Alternative Routes to the Brenner Pass
Truck traffic bans on the Brenner Pass are forcing carriers to consider alternative routes through the Alps. Each route that allows trucks to bypass these bans has its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of cost, travel time, and infrastructure limitations.
1. The Felbertauern Tunnel as an alternative when there are truck traffic bans
This is one of the most popular detour routes when travel through the Brenner Pass is difficult. The route goes through Kufstein, St. Johann in Tirol, Kitzbühel, and Mittersill, then through the Felbertauern Tunnel to Lienz (East Tyrol), and on toward Brixen (South Tyrol).
The cost of the tunnel is approximately 11 EUR per truck trip. If you exit the highway at Oberaudorf before Kufstein and take the national roads, you can travel this section without needing an Austrian vignette. Most importantly, this route avoids the delays associated with the Lueg Bridge, which often go hand in hand with truck traffic bans on the Brenner Pass.
However, the travel time is significantly longer. The Innsbruck–Brixen route via Felbertauern usually takes about 3.5–4 hours, while the Brenner route, without traffic jams or speed limits, can be completed in about 1.5 hours.
The advantages include lighter traffic than on the A13 and greater predictability during periods when truck bans block the standard route. The downsides are a longer route, higher fuel consumption, and restrictions for truck-trailer combinations that exceed the permitted dimensional limits.
2. The Reschen Pass in 2026 is not a viable alternative to truck traffic bans
In theory, the route through Landeck and over the Reschen Pass toward Vinschgau and Merano seems like a reasonable detour. In practice, however, it should not be considered a contingency plan in 2026.
The Reschen Pass is closed or heavily restricted due to the construction of a protective tunnel, and during certain periods, there are additional temporary closures on weekdays. This means that the pass does not solve the problem when truck traffic bans are in effect on the Brenner Pass.
The “through Switzerland” option, which is sometimes suggested, doesn’t help either, because it has restrictions on heavy vehicles, including truck-trailer combinations and parts of buses. The conclusion is simple. In 2026, the Reschen Pass should not be listed as an alternative for heavy transport.
3. Arlberg as an alternative route to western Italy when truck traffic bans block the Brenner Pass
If shipments are headed westward through Italy, some carriers are considering a route through Innsbruck, Landeck, and the Arlberg Tunnel, continuing through Vorarlberg toward Liechtenstein or Switzerland, and then heading south via the San Bernardino or Gotthard passes.
The toll for the Arlberg Tunnel is about 11.50 EUR, but the main cost comes in Switzerland. Truck transit is subject to the LSVA, which is very expensive compared to the Brenner.
Time-wise, it’s not a quick option either. For the Innsbruck–Milan route via San Bernardino, you usually have to add about 2–3 hours compared to the Brenner Pass, assuming no traffic jams. The advantage is that you bypass the entire Brenner corridor and the restrictions associated with the Lueg Bridge, so you avoid situations where truck traffic bans throw a wrench in your plans. The downsides are the high costs, the longer travel time, and the need to account for Swiss nighttime, Sunday, and holiday driving bans.
4. Tarvisio as an Eastern Alternative to Truck Traffic Bans on the Brenner Pass
For routes heading toward northeastern Italy, a sensible alternative is often to travel through Salzburg, Villach, and Tarvisio, and then on to Udine and the Venice area. On the Italian side, standard highway tolls apply, but the most important thing is that you completely bypass the Brenner Pass, so truck traffic restrictions on that route no longer apply.
For some routes from Poland to northeastern Italy, Tarvisio can actually be a shorter route than the Brenner Pass, even under normal conditions. The downside is that for shipments bound for western and central Italy, the route becomes significantly longer and often ceases to be cost-effective as a detour.
