Truckers block key road in Austria

Police in Austria closed a stretch of a key road linking Germany and Italy today as trucking companies staged a blockade in protest at high taxes and road fees.

Authorities shut down the Inntal motorway in the western province of Tyrol at 9.15am (8.15am Irish time), and officials said the truckers planned to use their rigs to block all traffic on the road until 2pm (1pm Irish time).

Police called on motorists to avoid the area, and truck drivers were being rerouted through Switzerland and France, Austrian radio said.

Transport companies said they were resorting to the blockade because Austrian authorities had not responded to their repeated demands to reduce fuel surcharges and other fees imposed on the heavily-taxed trucking industry.