Karawanks Tunnel, Road tunnel between Sankt Jakob im Rosental, Austria and Jesenice, Slovenia
The Karawanks Tunnel runs for nearly 7900 meters underground, linking the Austrian A11 motorway with the Slovenian A2 and passing beneath the mountain range. The two-lane bore carries vehicles between Sankt Jakob im Rosental and Jesenice through solid rock.
Work began in 1986, and after roughly five years the route opened in June 1991. Completion coincided with Slovenia's independence war, when soldiers briefly controlled the southern entrance.
This link through the mountains makes travel between Carinthia and Slovenia much easier than the old winding passes. Many people know it from trips to the sea or visiting family south of the Alps.
Drivers pay a separate toll of 7.80 euros on top of the Slovenian vignette when passing through. Both directions use two lanes, so keeping a safe distance and watching for changing speed limits is wise.
During the brief war in 1991, helicopters landed directly at the portal and several air strikes targeted the area. Today, little remains to remind visitors of that extraordinary event in what is now quiet border traffic.
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