Stau-alarm on the A23: Massive locks on the Prater knot by 2026!

Stau-alarm on the A23: Massive locks on the Prater knot by 2026!

The Southeast Tangent (A23), known as one of the most frequented roads in Austria, is currently being extensively renovated. Every day, around 230,000 vehicles use the section between Prater knot and the Handelskai junction, which is noticeable in the form of daily traffic jams and delays of up to an hour, especially for traffic peaks and on weekends. Departures on the Handelskai have to keep on the right, while a color guiding system is all the better directs, the ÖAMTC .

The breakdown strip in the direction of travel is currently used as an additional lane, while the necessary expansion of the opposite direction is set up as a trough track. Despite these measures, the use of stadiumalle due to construction work in the area of the stadium bridge remains unattractive, since disabilities must also be expected there.

diversions and closures

The renovation project is carried out in several phases, the next blocking phase on Friday, August 26th, from 10 p.m. to Sunday, August 28th, until 5 p.m. This phase is the ninth of a total of 15 and affects both the A23 and the A4 Ost Autobahn, such as the nön reported. During this time, the rides and departures in the knot are blocked, which continues to complicate the situation for drivers who rely on the Tangente or the Ost Autobahn.

For the construction work, total diversions are required in order to at least partially maintain the flow of traffic despite the construction sites. These measures should be completed by the end of August 2026, with the junctions of Prater and Handelskai, after a winter break from October 2025 to March 2026.

traffic situation in Austria

The construction site on the A23 impressively shows the challenges of mobility in Austria, which is strongly connected to the car. According to current data, which were published on Statista , there are over 1,749 kilometers of highways in Austria. In 2021, around 7.2 million motor vehicles were registered, which means an increase of 116,000 vehicles compared to the previous year.

However, there is also a growing tendency to switch to more environmentally friendly means of transport. A survey shows that 47% of Austrians would be willing to switch to the train if travel times were lower. In addition, about a third of private driving communities or car sharing could imagine. These developments represent an important aspect for future traffic planning, especially in view of the current challenges by the construction sites and the associated traffic disabilities.