Plöckenpass finally opens: renovation is making progress!

Plöckenpass finally opens: renovation is making progress!

At the Plöcken Pass, an important transport connection between Carinthia and Italy, the signs point to opening. The road on the Italian side was resurfaced between “Casetta In Canada” and the pass, while on the Austrian side all renovation work was successfully completed. Loud Gailtal Journal the road is prepared in impeccable, passable condition. However, the pass currently remains closed due to ongoing renovation work.

For the weekends, 5th/6th April and 12/13. April 2025, no crossing is possible. The pass is expected to open on April 14, 2025. The following week, between April 14th and 18th, a meeting of the responsible authorities is planned, at which representatives from Carinthia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and other official bodies will meet. The exact date still needs to be agreed.

Planned opening times and construction progress

After the meeting, the road is expected to open during the day, depending on the progress of construction work and a common solution for opening hours. A nighttime closure will remain in place during construction, with the current forecast for opening targeting 8am to 5pm until at least April 21, 2025. It is possible that the blocking period could be extended until April 27, 2025. Further information on the procedure will be provided by the road maintainers ANAS, the construction companies and the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region.

The renovation measures on the Plöcken Pass are particularly important because the road is of central importance for cross-border traffic. President of Friuli, Massimiliano Fedriga, highlights the importance of the state road 52bis, which is essential for cooperation with Carinthia. In addition, the Friuli region is planning solutions to secure the connection in the coming months, including the construction of a tunnel or a new road, which could cost between 170 and 300 million euros.

Promoting European infrastructure projects

The recent developments at the Plöcken Pass fit into a larger context of infrastructure projects in Europe. The European Union has allocated €30 billion in funding for cross-border infrastructure projects under the revised Connecting Europe Facility, such as EU Parliament reported. This funding, available until 2027, aims to support transport, energy and digital projects that provide added value across the EU.

A large part of the funds should flow into projects that serve the EU's climate protection goals. The expansion of infrastructure should ensure that important European projects are implemented by 2030, which could also include the Plöcken Pass. Thanks to these measures, cooperation between Austria and Italy will be promoted to create a safe and modern infrastructure that will benefit both economic growth and tourism.