Against tunnels and tolls

Reutte is bad ground for Fernpass plans

Many Reutten residents took to the barricades against the so-called Fernpass package.(Bild: Daum Hubert)

Once again, citizens have risen up against the plans of the state of Tyrol to tunnel under the Fernpass and charge tolls for it. This time in Reutte. The local council recently joined the Transit Forum - a clear sign of rejection.

Reutte is not a good place for the state's plans for the Fernpass. Mayor Günter Salchner does not hide his skepticism in public and last week the municipal council decided to join the Transit Forum at the request of the Green Party. Fritz Gurgiser naturally felt particularly welcome in Reutte on Friday. His transit forum and the opponents of the long-distance pass tunnel Initiative Lebensraum Gurgltal, Mieming and Außerfern called for the "1st citizens' warning meeting" at the bandstand.

And they came in droves, and the media interest was also enormous. "We are quite simply demanding compliance with national and international law," Fritz Gurgiser demanded once again, "a long-distance pass tunnel will only attract more traffic". A traffic concept for the entire region is needed, as well as a dosage at the entry borders. "And the definition of the ban on trucks over 7.5 tons is a joke," said Dietmar Leiter from BI Gurgltal.

Less than 20% in the Reutten valley basin in favor of the project
BM Salchner also used an example to explain why he is not in favor of the project: "Ehrenberg Fortress, the thermal baths and Lumagica also attract many visitors via the Fernpass. The toll would make everything 24 euros more expensive." In general: a mayor is the mouthpiece of the citizens. He knows from a representative survey by a student that not even a fifth of the residents of the entire valley basin have a positive view of the Fernpass plans. And a toll tunnel would disconnect the Außerfern even more from the rest of Tyrol. However, it is already known that the influence of a municipality on the project will be very modest.

Nevertheless, the people in Gurgltal and Mieming want to continue the fight. A referendum will be held in Nassereith on July 21.