On Wednesday evening, a storm passed over Vorarlberg. This was not without consequences. A mudslide occurred on the Arlberg. The Arlberg road between Langen and Alpe Rauz was completely closed.

As the ORF reported, emergency services had to be deployed over 70 times, especially in the Feldkirch area and in the Arlberg region.

The mudslide occurred directly over the Passür tunnel between Langen am Arlberg and Stuben. According to Günter Dönz from the road maintenance department, the road surface in the tunnel has already been cleared of the rock masses, but there is a lot of material on the tunnel, which is currently the biggest problem.

At 7 a.m. on Thursday morning, experts assessed the situation to see whether the tunnel could withstand the load or whether these rock masses would have to be removed first before the tunnel could be reopened to traffic.

Tunnel remains closed for the time being

Following initial reconnaissance flights, structural calculations are currently underway, says State Councillor for Security Christian Gantner (ÖVP). These are intended to clarify whether the weight of the earth and rubble masses on the tunnel could pose a safety risk.

+++ UPDATE, 11 a.m.: As the state of Vorarlberg reports, the road will be open to traffic again from 12 p.m. +++

The Arlberg tunnel is closed due to renovation work. The only way to avoid it is to take the L198 via Lech and then the L200 through the Bregenzerwald. Dönz hopes that the tunnel can be reopened on Thursday morning.

Motorists can take the B12 Isny-Kempten and the Fernpass Munich to avoid the route.

You can take the L200, the Bregenzerwaldstraße and then the L198, Flexenstraße from Warth to Lech and Alpe Rauz to the L197 and then over the Arlberg Pass.

Tree falls highway

Heavy rain and storms led to several fire service operations within a short period of time on Wednesday evening. Several roads were blocked by fallen trees. On the A14, a tree fell onto the road at the Feldkirch-Nord exit in the direction of Innsbruck. Between the Dornbirn-Nord roundabout and the Achrain tunnel, several trees blocked the road.

The emergency services also had to pump out several cellars and underpasses.