Brettfall construction site

“There will be days of chaos”

The diversion in front of the tunnel has been active since Monday.

(Bild: ZOOM.TIROL, Krone KREATIV)

Day one of the Brettfall mega construction site: since 8 a.m. on Monday, the tunnel into the valley has only been open to one lane of traffic. For the time being, there was no traffic chaos in the front Zillertal, but the real endurance tests for the traffic concept will follow.

Most of the 50,000 guest beds in the Zillertal empty, almost all cable cars closed, hardly any excursion traffic on this "normal" Monday - the three-year renovation of the Brettfall Tunnel near Strass in the Zillertal started on Monday under favorable conditions.

Out of the valley through the village
As reported, the first phase will now run until 21 June: traffic will continue to roll through the 1336-metre-long tube into the valley, out of the valley via Rotholzer Straße and through the village area to the traffic circle, where it will join the Tyrolean main road (B171).

Note on the mega construction site in the front Zillertal.

(Bild: zoom.tirol, Krone KREATIV)

The diversion in front of the tunnel has been active since Monday.

(Bild: ZOOM.TIROL, Krone KREATIV)

On day one, the single lane only started at around 8 a.m., the early morning traffic was already almost over and there were only short traffic jams when the barriers of the Zillertalbahn were lowered at Strass station.

The Brettfall Tunnel has been keeping the village quiet for 30 years, now we just have to put up with three tough years.

Karl Eberharter, Bürgermeister von Strass

Bild: Birbaumer Christof

Tourism will exacerbate the problem
It will be exciting in May when tourism picks up again and the extended weekends boost excursion traffic: "There have been around ten meetings with the state and Strabag about the traffic concept," says Mayor Karl Eberharter optimistically. He has been preaching to his local residents for months: "The Brettfall Tunnel has been providing peace and quiet in the village for 30 years, now we just have to put up with three tough years."

Traffic signaller Esra, pictured with boss Armin, has everything under control for the time being.

(Bild: zoom.tirol)

The scene is the Astholz district: village cab driver Toni Ringler picks up Hilda Jäger, who wants to visit a retirement home. "I'll probably be using shortcuts in the village more often in the near future," smiles Toni. In general, however, driving bans prevent alternative routes in the valley (near Schlitters, Fügen and Hart).

Local resident Markus from Astholz cycles to work in Rotholz whenever possible and adds: "We don't shop as often as before, but we do buy larger quantities. The days of chaos are here to stay."

The tunnel can now only be used in one lane for eleven weeks.

(Bild: ZOOM.TIROL, Krone KREATIV)

Four traffic posts until Friday, then it will be checked
One of a total of four traffic posts is stationed at the entrance to the detour route from Astholz. "If there are traffic jams, I stop the traffic so that residents can get in and out at all," explains Esra, trowel in hand. Her boss Armin Hartweger adds: "For the time being, four of my employees are assigned to neuralgic spots until Friday. Then we'll check how this solution has worked out."

More Tyrolean tunnels have to be closed 
On April 15, the second closure of the Arlberg Tunnel will begin as Asfinag continues the necessary renovation of the almost 50-year-old concrete roadway. A regional detour via the Arlberg Pass is planned again until November. Due to cleaning and maintenance work, the Lermoos Tunnel is also closed from Monday until 8 a.m. on Friday, and then all day on Monday. The detour is via the Ehrwald basin.