From the cycle path along the Eisack River near Hemberg, a striking view of the elevated route of the A22 Brenner motorway opens up. In this section, the motorway runs on a wide-span bridge structure, supported by massive concrete piers that adapt to the steep slope of the Eisack Valley. This construction method was necessary to efficiently guide the dense north-south traffic over the Brenner Pass through the narrow valley without placing excessive strain on the valley floor and the riverbed.
The route is one of the more technically demanding sections of the A22, as it had to accommodate geologically difficult terrain with slopes, tight curves, and the risk of flooding in the river valley. The elevated position of the roadway not only enables uninterrupted traffic flow but also provides some relief for the natural and residential structures below.
The bridge structure can be clearly seen from the accompanying cycle path – it vividly demonstrates how modern engineering technology has been embedded into an Alpine landscape. The contrast between the technical dimension of the A22 and the natural course of the Eisack River characterizes this section of the valley and makes it an impressive example of functional infrastructure construction in mountainous terrain.