Plabutsch Tunnel

The Plabutschtunnel is a dual-carriageway road tunnel in the Steiermark region of Austria. It cuts through the Plabutsch and Buchkogel hills west of Graz, linking the Pyhrn Autobahn A9 at Graz-Webling in the south to Raach in the north. Two parallel tubes, each about ten kilometres long, carry traffic through the hills. The tunnel replaced an old route used by workers travelling between the Balkans and central Europe, which once ran straight through Graz. Its construction followed years of public protest against a planned surface route through the Eggenberg district. After a referendum in 1975, planners chose the tunnel option and work began in 1980. The first tube opened in 1987, and the second followed in 2004 after a five-year build. Inside, each tube has two lanes and is equipped with modern safety systems. There are fire-fighting niches every 106 metres and emergency exits at Baiernstraße and Krottendorfer Straße. The tunnel also features bright lighting, reflective surfaces and ventilation shafts to keep air clear. Two notifiable cross-passages allow fire engines to move between tubes, while smaller foot crossings serve as escape routes every 350 metres.