We should perhaps warn members and friends who do not know, that late
July and August are often major times for roadworks in Austria. This
year, Vienna is especially hard hit with synchronised road-works, over
the bridges. At certain times of the day expect it to take 1 - 2 hours
to drive from West to East! Coming from the airport for the West of
the city, be sure to turn left on to the Ring, or you will perhaps
catch the queue for the next roadworks!
Throughout Austria expect many kilometers of motorway to be coned off
with no sign of any work! For example just West of Linz. At least the
experimental 100Km speed limit on this motorway seems to have gone.
If you do manage to get into top gear, beware the cameras which are
everywhere in Austria.
Most radio-stations have excellent road traffic news up-dates which
are well worth listening to. Of course the old favourites like the
Tauern Tunnel are still there (allow 3 hours queuing most weekends) .
But unless you are pulling a caravan it is easy enough to avoid by
going over the beautiful pass.
On the plus side the new motorway and final link between Vienna and
Bratislava has now been open some time and makes it an easy drive -
especially now Slovakia is in Schengen. Vienna International Airport
is poorly served by direct flights from the UK - I think it is the
only European capital city with no flights to Manchester for example.
Often Bratislava provides a useful alternative.
It might be helpful to have more discussion on this forum about travel
to Austria - maybe we could even try to persuade the Austrian
Government to be a bit more friendly to the motorist!
Steve Patriarca
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