The Pfänder Tunnel is located in the far northwest of Austria, on the A14 between Leiblach and Bregenz/Kennelbach. It serves, among other things, to bypass the capital of Vorarlberg, Bregenz. The tunnel passes under the 1064-meter-high Pfänder.
It connects the A96 from Germany with the Rheintal Autobahn A14 in Austria. Holidaymakers wishing to travel quickly from Germany to Austria can use this route to reach their destination quickly.
After several years of preparation, construction of the Pfänder Tunnel began in 1973. The project was officially tendered the following year. On September 27, 1974, construction began, and on December 4, 1975, the final breakthrough occurred. The opening of the tunnel took place in 1980.
Measurements in 2008 revealed that more than 27,000 vehicles per day passed through the Pfänder Tunnel. By 2020, this number had increased to over 30,000 vehicles daily. These figures indicate that the tunnel successfully alleviated traffic congestion in Bregenz.
The eastern tube extends for 6,718 meters (6.7 km). The western tube measures a total of 6,744 meters (6.7 km).
The Pfänder Tunnel was not always toll-free. Until a few years ago, it was necessary to purchase a toll sticker (corridor vignette) for the tunnel. This vignette was available for €2 (one-way) or €4 (round trip), significantly cheaper than the 10-day vignette usually required. However, since many drivers opted for toll-free roads around Bregenz, ASFINAG decided in 2019 to make four sections in Austria toll-free. These four sections include:
The toll exemption applies only to cars. Vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of more than 3.5 tons still require the Go Box.
No, the Pfänder Tunnel is toll-free. Why? Because the area around Bregenz is toll-free, leading to increased traffic, the Pfänder Tunnel has been toll-free since December 15, 2019.
