by InTrieste
A major alpine road connecting Italy and Austria has reopened following months of repair work after a landslide closed the route in December 2023. The Monte Croce Carnico Pass (SS52 bis), which crosses the border between Italy’s Friuli Venezia Giulia region and Austria’s Carinthia state, is now accessible daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. until the beginning of summer.
Officials from both countries marked the reopening with a ceremony on Sunday, including the regional infrastructure councillor from Friuli Venezia Giulia, the deputy governor of Carinthia, and representatives from Anas, Italy’s national road agency.
Work on the route included the installation of advanced safety systems, such as high-impact rockfall barriers, snow nets, and monitoring sensors designed to detect and predict landslides. The upgrades aim to ensure the safety of travelers through the alpine corridor, which is frequently used for both tourism and local transportation.
The road had partially reopened in late January with limited hours, allowing some cross-border travel during the ski season. Regional officials said the early reopening helped reduce the impact of the closure on local communities and supported winter tourism.
Authorities said the timing of the full reopening — just ahead of the Easter holidays and spring travel season — is expected to benefit tourism on both sides of the border. The Monte Croce Pass is a popular route for day trips and longer holidays, particularly in spring and summer months.
The collaboration between Friuli Venezia Giulia and Carinthia was cited by officials as an example of effective cross-border cooperation in infrastructure and emergency response.
