Border controls lead to catastrophic traffic jams at the Scharnitzer Tunnel!

Border controls lead to catastrophic traffic jams at the Scharnitzer Tunnel!

Traffic jam at the Austrian-German border: on June 27, 2025, the traffic light at the south portal of the Scharnitzer Tunnel turns red. This is due to the increased entry controls by the Federal Police, which are being carried out on the instructions of Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU). The changed conditions have led to massive traffic problems that extend as far as Zirl and are particularly causing severe delays for those returning from the Bavarian Whitsun holidays. Scharnitz's mayor Christian Ihrberger speaks of a "catastrophe" while the speed at the checkpoints is reduced to just ten kilometers per hour.

The situation is made even worse by the closure of the Scharnitz bypass tunnel in front of it, which is temporarily closed in the event of a traffic jam - a so-called block clearance. “It is a serious challenge for our rescue workers, who have to be in town quickly,” emphasizes Mayor Ihrberger, who sees his options for action as limited and urgently calls for decisions at a higher level in order to deal with the traffic chaos.

Alternative routes and careful relaxation

Feedback so far shows that more and more holidaymakers are choosing alternative routes across the Leutasch Valley to avoid traffic jams. Mayor Georgios Chrysochoidis of Leutasch sees the shift, but describes it as “noticeable, but not dramatic”. Nevertheless, it is particularly the traffic jams around the Porta Claudia Tunnel that lead to frustration among drivers, as this was intended as a relief measure.

Dr. Rainer Scharf, the spokesman for the federal police in Rosenheim, defends the controls and explains that it is not in the agency's interest to create traffic jams. Rather, the goal is to curb smuggling crime. The discussion about increased border controls is not new: the EU interior ministers recently discussed such measures in Luxembourg in order to ensure security within the Union.

Background of the controls

Controls at internal borders have already been introduced not only in Germany, but also in other EU states such as Austria and due to security policy considerations. In view of the increasing violence and extreme dangers, for example in connection with the conflicts in the Gaza Strip and Israel, many politicians believe that restrictive control is necessary. EU interior ministers are discussing the possibility of expanding such controls in response to security concerns, with conditions set out in the Schengen Borders Code. These measures may be implemented on a short-term and temporary basis to adequately respond to possible threats, temporarily affecting travel in our neighboring countries.

For the travelers who were stuck in traffic for this reason, it only remains to be seen whether the situation at the border will ease in the coming days and what measures those responsible will take to solve the traffic problems in the long term.

For further information and current developments, you can read the reporting from Mercury, tz as well as from bpb keep an eye on.