Austria closes off road with a concrete barrier to stop Hungarian commuters

In Austria’s eastern province of Burgenland, a municipal decision to block a cross-border road with a concrete barrier has sparked controversy. The closure, near Kelénpatak (Klingenbach) and Cinfalva (Siegendorf), aims to curb rising traffic linked to Hungarian commuters but has drawn criticism for disrupting local transit. The move highlights tensions in border communities adapting to increasing cross-border movement.

Tension at the border

As we have reported HERE, tensions have been escalating at the Austrian-Hungarian border, particularly affecting commuters from Hungary who travel to the village of Schattendorf. After prolonged road construction, access for Hungarian residents has been severely restricted, forcing them to take a detour of 30 kilometres instead of the usual 2 kilometres to reach their destinations. The Mayor of Schattendorf, Thomas Hoffmann, has not fulfilled his promise to allow “neighbourhood traffic,” and many residents from the nearby village of Ágfalva are struggling to obtain the necessary permits to cross. Despite being willing to pay for access, they face bureaucratic hurdles, including the installation of concrete barriers.

Source: Youtube / Cyberpress

Austria’s drastic act to stop Hungarian commuters

As Telex reports, Austria has implemented another border road closure to address growing traffic from Hungary, particularly commuters travelling from the Sopron region to Austria for work. Following the earlier closure of the Ágfalva–Somfalva crossing, the Klingenbach council decided to block an exit ramp with a concrete barrier, a measure supported by the provincial government. Installed recently, the closure has already intensified morning congestion near the Sopron border, reflecting the increasing challenges posed by rising commuter numbers.

Legal basis?

Following the closure of the Somfalva (Schattendorf) border, many Hungarian commuters rerouted through Klingenbach, prompting Austria’s latest move to block the road. While the inconvenience to residents is understandable, Hungarian commuters fear that more villages in the neighbouring country might follow suit, further complicating their daily journeys. Lawyer Dr Máté Ruzicska, who has previously challenged Austria’s “temporary” border controls since 2015, argues that such actions set concerning legal precedents. These controls, which commuters claim cost time and money, highlight ongoing tensions over cross-border traffic management.

Legal case

A legal challenge against the border controls was dismissed, with the court ruling them “not wholly unlawful”. Similarly, a case against the municipality of Somfalva over local border restrictions ended with the same outcome, though an administrative appeal remains pending. Lawyers argue that Austria’s actions violate EU law. Still, effective advocacy for commuters requires greater political will, both locally and at the European level—something currently lacking or not visible in public discourse. Hungary, they suggest, could play a stronger role in holding Austria accountable within the EU framework.

Read also:

• Austrian village makes it impossible for Hungarian commuters to pass the border
• The new Iron Curtain: Huge outrage at the Hungarian–Austrian border

Featured image: illustration, depositphotos.com