Kramer Tunnel in Garmisch: New construction partner brings a breath of fresh air!

Kramer Tunnel in Garmisch: New construction partner brings a breath of fresh air!

A dramatic comeback for the Kramer Tunnel in Garmisch-Partenkirchen! After a year of standstill, caused by a bitter dispute with the old tunnel construction company, the time has finally come: a new company has been awarded the contract for the remaining work. The state building authority in Weilheim announced on Monday that the construction company Porr will now complete the inner shell of the tunnel. This decision brings a breath of fresh air to the project, which is of great importance for bypassing the popular holiday resort.

The old construction company Bemo Tunneling made massive additional demands of around 50 million euros last year, which brought the work to a standstill. Originally, costs of around 150 million euros were planned for the entire tunnel construction. But due to unexpected challenges such as the corona pandemic and rising material prices, the project became significantly more expensive. After a shocking retreat by Bemo workers in the summer of 2023, just meters from completion, a new solution was urgently needed.

The new partner and the future of the Kramer Tunnel

A fresh approach is now being pursued with the new partner Porr. The tunnel, which at 3,609 meters will be the longest road tunnel in Bavaria, is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2027. Work on the roadway and the complex operating technology will follow after the inner shell. Despite the turbulence, the building authority remains optimistic that the total costs of 365 million euros are realistic. Meanwhile, the authority is already planning the next bypass for the Partenkirchen district, which may be put into operation by 2030. The Kramer Tunnel will therefore not only be a technical masterpiece, but also a central element for the region's transport connections.