Brenner Base Tunnel: Breakthrough of the West Main Tunnel in the Austrian Pfons–Brenner Construction Lot
With the breakthrough in the western main tube of the Brenner Base Tunnel on May 31, 2025, another central section of the Austrian construction lot H53, Pfons–Brenner has been completed.
The breakthrough took place north of the geologically challenging Hochstegen area, around 1200 m below the Padauner Kogel in the municipality of Steinach. The main tunnel east was already broken through in this area in early May 2025.
Breakthrough in the western main tube of the Brenner Base Tunnel on May 31, 2025, in the Austrian construction lot H53, north of the geologically challenging Hochstegen fault zone
Credit/Quelle:BBT SE
For Michael Knapp, the project manager of the Pfons–Brenner construction lot, the breakthrough is another great success: “We have been working in a geologically challenging environment, but we succeeded once again. Our thanks go to the workers, surveyors, geotechnicians and contractors, and to all BBT SE employees, for their extraordinary efforts.”
Breakthrough in the Exploratory Tunnel planned for Autumn 2025
Following the successful breakthrough and crossing of the Hochstegen fault zone, the tunnelling work is progressing rapidly southwards to the national border at Brenner using the drill-and-blast method.
All eyes are currently on the exploratory tunnel, located 10–12 m below the two main tunnels: just over 400 m are left until the Brenner Pass is reached from the Austrian side as well. Completion of the excavation work here is expected by autumn 2025. This will be the first ever cross-border underground connection between Italy and Austria.
