Salzburg starts closures for Festspiel district construction

Salzburg has begun closing access routes for the Festspielbezirk 2030 construction project, with a section of the footpath to Herbert-von-Karajan-Platz now blocked, ORF reported. The larger closure of the Neutor will begin on September 14.

The Salzburg Festival has ended and preparations are now under way to build additional underground space beneath Mönchsberg. The plans include a “House in the Mountain” with a backstage area, assembly hall, rehearsal rooms and recording facilities, as well as new logistics and connecting routes.

A new access road from the Neutor tunnel is intended to handle deliveries in the future. To prepare the construction site, display cases have been removed and lamps dismantled. The footpath closure will remain in place throughout the construction of the caverns.

Access to the festival venues through the garages is also affected. Altstadtgarage B, a parking garage, will remain accessible via Toscaninihof. The pedestrian tunnel running parallel to the Neutor will stay open. Cyclists may use it in both directions but must push their bicycles.

From September 14, the Neutor will be closed to all traffic for about six months. Bus routes 1, 8, 10 and 22 will be diverted via Mülln, with an additional route 10E planned. About 9,000 vehicles a day are affected. Private vehicles will also no longer be allowed to turn right towards Hanuschplatz.

Milling work for the cavern is due to start in early October. After six months, the Neutor is expected to reopen as a single lane for buses, local residents and deliveries. Work in the Festspiel district will continue for several more years, with renovation of the Großes Festspielhaus planned from autumn 2028.