The Arlberg Road Tunnel (German: Arlberg Straßentunnel), with a length of 13.976 kilometres (8.684 mi), is Austria's longest road tunnel. When it was inaugurated, it was the longest road tunnel in the world. It carries the S16 Arlberg Schnellstraße (German for "Arlberg Highway") under the Arlberg massif from Tyrol to Vorarlberg.

Arlberg Road Tunnel
Gallery at the east portal, view of lane towards Vorarlberg
Overview
Route E60 S16 (Arlberg Schnellstraße)
StartSt. Anton am Arlberg, Tyrol
47°08′28″N 10°18′48″E / 47.141172°N 10.313269°E / 47.141172; 10.313269
EndLangen am Arlberg, Vorarlberg
47°07′47″N 10°07′12″E / 47.129806°N 10.120006°E / 47.129806; 10.120006
Operation
Work begun5 July 1974
Opened1 December 1978
OperatorASFiNAG
Toll€ 11.50 (toll station at the east portal)
Technical
Length13.972 km (8.68 mi)
(15.537 km (9.65 mi) including galleries)

The tunnel is 1,318 metres (4,324 ft) above sea level with the road above the tunnel having an elevation of 1,793 metres (5,883 ft).[1]

It was built between July 1974 and December 1978, and its costs amounted to 4 billion Austrian schillings (~300 million €). The tunnel is designed for 1800 vehicles per hour and equipped with 4 ventilation centres (one shaft with a height of 736 metres is the deepest in Europe), 12 vents, 43 cameras for traffic monitoring and 16 niches. In 1998 the tunnel was used by 2.6 million vehicles, where 18% are accounting for freight transport. The Arlberg Tunnel is a Toll Road with a one-way fee of €11 (as of October 2019). Tolls for both directions are collected at the eastern end of the tunnel.

In summer 2023 and 2024 it is closed from April to October for repairing works.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ [ Displaying Abstract ] (2012-06-10). "WORK ON THE ARLBERG TUNNEL. - Article - NYTimes.com". New York Times. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
Records
Preceded by
Mont Blanc Tunnel
11.61 km (7.21 mi)
World's longest road tunnel
1978–1980
Succeeded by
Gotthard Road Tunnel
16.4 km (10.19 mi)