Project Name:
Renovation of the Western Tube of the Karawanks Tunnel
Client:
ASFINAG (Autobahnen- und Schnellstraßen- Finanzierungs-Aktiengesellschaft)
Construction Period:
27.03.2026-29.04.2029
Country:
Austria, Carinthia
Project Description:
Following the completion and opening to traffic of the second tunnel tube of the Karawanks Tunnel, the comprehensive renovation of the existing western tube—originally commissioned in 1991—will begin on March 27, 2026. The approximately 7,957-meter-long tunnel passes through the massive mountain range of the Southern Limestone Alps and derives its name from the Karawanks Mountains. A unique geographical feature is that the national border between Austria and Slovenia runs directly through the middle of the tunnel.
The contract includes the refurbishment of the tunnel on Austrian territory as well as the civil structures in the open-air area at the north portal.
As part of the renovation, the old intermediate ceiling, concrete roadway, road drainage system, cable ducts, and curbstones will be removed. Subsequently, breakthroughs will be made to the cross passages constructed during the building of the new eastern tube, followed by concrete repair work on the inner lining. After that, a new intermediate ceiling will be installed and the entire tunnel coating system will be renewed.
In addition, new cable ducts with cover plates, modern curbstones, and a completely redesigned drainage system will be built. The work also includes the construction of a new concrete roadway and the installation of a firefighting water system, both aimed at enhancing safety and functionality.
Extensive work is also planned in the open-air sections, in order to adapt the access roads and portal areas to the renovated tunnel. The connection to the north portal will be refurbished, road surfaces renewed, and drainage systems modernized. Bridge structures in the portal areas will be inspected, sealed, and repaired as necessary to ensure their long-term functionality. In the tunnel surroundings, retaining walls, slopes, and rockfall protection systems will be reinforced to guarantee traffic safety outside the tunnel as well. Furthermore, the lighting system in the transition zone between tunnel and open-air area will be adjusted to provide road users with a safe and comfortable transition.
Through this comprehensive modernization, the western tube of the Karawanks Tunnel will be upgraded to meet the latest safety and functional standards. Once the works are completed, the tunnel will feature two state-of-the-art tubes, together providing a safe, efficient, and future-oriented connection between Austria and Slovenia.
Thus, the Karawanks Tunnel will remain a key link in the European transport network and an important engineering landmark of the Alpine region.
