Arlberg Pass Roads

Two pass roads traverse the Arlberg. The Arlbergstrasse runs from west to east from the Rhine valley through the Klostertal, which begins at Bludenz to the Inn valley, reaching a height of some 1,800m/5,900ft at the Arlberg pass. Close by lies St Christoph am Arlberg (once a hospice; founded 1884). A road tunnel 14km/9mi long between Langen and St Anton, opened in 1978, now permits safe passage on this route even in winter. The Flexenstrasse branches off this road east of Stuben and runs north over the Flexen pass (1,784m/5,853ft) into the Lechtal. It is scenically most impressive, affording superb views of the Verwall group and skirting the rugged rock walls of the Stubenbach gorge in tremendous bends. Numerous galleries provide protection against avalanches for the road, which whenever possible is kept open during the winter; the northern approach road, however, is frequently closed in winter between Warth and Lech.