Bolzano - The demonstration against transit traffic announced for May 30th threatens to massively disrupt the Brenner corridor for eight hours. The chambers of commerce along the Brenner axis - namely Bolzano, Trento, Verona, Cremona-Mantua-Pavia and Modena - are urging the Tyrolean provincial government to reschedule the action so that the A13 highway on the Tyrolean side remains passable without traffic restrictions.
Danger for the economy and free movement
According to business representatives, a closure of the highway and adjacent federal roads on the important Scandinavian-Mediterranean corridor would massively interfere with the free movement of people and goods within the European Union. The choice of date further exacerbates the problem: May 30 falls right at the time of busy window days. Previous and subsequent public holidays such as Whitsun in Austria and Germany (May 24), the Italian Republic Day (June 2) and Corpus Christi (June 4) have historically caused extreme traffic peaks at the Brenner Pass.
Safety risks and ecological consequences
The chamber presidents also warn of considerable side effects of the complete closure. In addition to an increased risk of accidents due to massive traffic jams, there is a danger that emergency services in areas close to the border will be blocked. Environmental pollution will also increase, as road users will have to take long detours and stop-and-go traffic on alternative routes is inevitable.
Economically, the regions in large parts of northern Italy are expecting noticeable losses. For freight traffic, the lockdown - in addition to the Tyrolean driving bans and the already planned dosage days on May 27 and 28 and June 1 - means further delays and rising costs. At the same time, the tourism and hospitality industry fears a drop in bookings and cancellations at short notice due to deterred vacationers.
In a joint statement, the presidents of the chambers involved along the A22 Brenner freeway emphasize that the right to demonstrate is inviolable. Nevertheless, the expected damage and safety risks due to the location and timing of the protest action were simply too high. The negative effects of the eight-hour blockade would not only be felt on the day itself, but also in the days before and after.
