Three tunnels in Tyrol – the Arlberg, Roppener and Perjen tunnels – were closed for this reason. All other systems remained in operation. As a precautionary measure, Asfinag manned long tunnels such as the Plabutsch tunnel in Graz with personnel at the portals.
Miles of traffic jams formed in both directions in front of the closed tunnels, the ÖAMTC reported. According to the club, an accident also occurred in Upper Austria on the Pyhrnautobahn (A9) in the direction of St. Michael when the Klaus tunnel chain was closed.
Traffic safety is not affected, the operating company emphasized when asked by APA. Safety devices such as the ventilation “function 100 percent independently and would start automatically in the event of an event”.
It was a network failure in the Asfinag area and a control problem, it was explained. The cause is still unknown. With the exception of the three Tyrolean tunnels mentioned, all the others – there are more than 160 in all of Austria – are in operation.
Source: Nachrichten
