Holiday traffic warning announced
Drivers are being warned of the high possibility of traffic jams at the weekend.Austrian car clubs ÖAMTC and Arbö said today (Thurs) that, especially on Saturday, substantial tailbacks were expected for key routes in Tyrol, Salzburg and Vorarlberg. The organisations explained their predictions were based on the fact that several German regions including Bavaria, Hamburg and Baden-Württemberg start a school holiday.Tens of thousands of German families are expected to spend their break in Austria. Many more will travel through the country to reach their vacation destinations in Italy and Croatia.An important road in the city centre of Vienna will be shut between 8pm and 11pm tonight due to the annual Opera Ball.Police will close down the Ringstraße boulevard between Schwarzenberg Square and Operngasse for individual traffic to ensure smooth operations around the State Opera, where thousands of people will gather for this years pompous event.Left-wing protesters demonstrating against the events capitalist image clashed with police special forces outside the opera house during previous State Opera Balls.