Official opening of the new tube of the 8-kilometre-long Karawanken Tunnel
After a construction period of just under 7.5 years, the new, almost eight-kilometre-long Karawanken Tunnel, which connects Austria and Slovenia, has been completed. The old tunnel tube will now undergo a complete refurbishment immediately afterwards.
A grand celebration was held on Wednesday 18 March to mark the occasion, attended by Transport Minister Peter Hanke, Economy Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, leading figures from Carinthian politics including Governor Peter Kaiser and Deputy Governor Martin Gruber, as well as the senior management of ASFINAG, including both board members, Hartwig Hufnagl and Herbert Kasser, the newly constructed tube of the Karawanken Tunnel on the A11 Karawanken Motorway was officially opened on Wednesday, 18 March. After a construction period of seven and a half years in total – due to a delay in the awarding of the contract and challenging hydrogeological conditions on the Slovenian side – the tunnel, which is just under eight kilometres long, has been completed. This marks the achievement of the next major milestone for this vital link between Austria and Slovenia.
Immediately following the official opening, preparations will begin for the diversion of traffic into the new tunnel tube. From 20 March, traffic coming from Slovenia and heading towards Austria will already be using the new tunnel, whilst the existing tube will continue to be used for traffic heading towards Slovenia for around a week. By 27 March at the latest, the new tunnel will then be operated in both directions until the old tunnel has also been completely refurbished. This work will begin immediately afterwards. Completion is scheduled for mid-2029, at which point two-way traffic will also be a thing of the past and the Karawanken Tunnel will meet the high safety standards of ASFINAG and the Slovenian DARS. ASFINAG has invested a total of 191 million euros in the construction of the new tunnel, whilst the complete refurbishment of the old tunnel tube represents a further investment of 123 million euros. Including the investments made by the Slovenian DARS, around 570 million euros will be invested in the full expansion of the Karawanken Tunnel.
“With this new tunnel, we are setting an important milestone for the future of the region. A modern and efficient infrastructure is the foundation for quality of life, economic strength and regional development,” emphasised Transport Minister Peter Hanke at the opening.
Economics Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer said: “With this investment, we are not only boosting mobility but also the competitiveness of our country – and making a lasting contribution to economic recovery.”
ASFINAG board member Hartwig Hufnagl highlighted, on the one hand, “the significant boost to road safety” and, on the other, pointed to the “national and regional economic benefits that such an investment brings, providing employment for many people across the entire region.”
For ASFINAG board member Herbert Kasser, the full expansion is “an investment with added value: this improved connection secures economic development in Carinthia and Slovenia, as this economic area can grow closer together.”
“State ceremony” in the middle of the tunnel
Following the first ceremony on the Austrian side, a historic gathering took place in the middle of the tunnel, directly on the border between Slovenia and Austria, where all the Austrian guests of honour, together with Slovenian Minister for Infrastructure Alenka Bratusek and DARS board member Andrej Ribič, officially opened the tunnel.
Key facts and figures:
- The full expansion will significantly increase the capacity of the Karawanken Tunnel. For motorists, this means no more traffic jams and no longer having to wait for long periods when entering or leaving the country.
- Two modern tunnel tubes will also guarantee the highest possible level of safety for everyone – the safety equipment in the Karawanken Tunnel will be of the highest technical standard.
- The new tunnel tube is exactly 7,948 metres long, of which 4,402 metres are on Austrian territory.
- ASFINAG and DARS have constructed escape routes – i.e. cross-passages to the existing tunnel tube – every 330 metres.
- The existing tube, now 35 years old, will subsequently be renovated; full reopening to traffic is scheduled for mid-2029.
- ASFINAG and DARS are investing around 340 million euros in the construction of the new tunnel; the full development, including the comprehensive refurbishment, represents a total investment of around 570 million euros for ASFINAG and DARS.
- The Karawanken Tunnel project received 3.35 million euros in funding from the European Union during the planning phase as part of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme. Funding of 9.4 million euros was provided for the construction phase.
Premium safety equipment for the Karawanken Tunnel
Once the comprehensive refurbishment is complete, both new tunnels will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology, particularly in terms of safety equipment. In addition to state-of-the-art ventilation, lighting, traffic sensors and CCTV systems, both tunnel tubes will be fitted with premium safety equipment that, in the event of a disruption (such as an accident in a tunnel tube), enables a switch to temporary two-way traffic within a matter of minutes.
New Rosenbach toll station by the end of 2027
Even before the full expansion is completed, the main Rosenbach toll station will also be rebuilt in the new ASFINAG design. Initial preparatory work began in early March 2026, with completion scheduled for the end of 2027. In the new construction, particular emphasis is being placed on sustainable building methods and the use of renewable raw materials, particularly wood. Renewable energy is also being prioritised for the energy supply. The roof of the new toll station will be fitted with a photovoltaic system, and the buildings will be heated in winter and cooled in summer using an air source heat pump. The construction of the new toll station represents an additional investment of around 30 million euros.