New Haslach gallery: Kals will become more avalanche in the future!

New Haslach gallery: Kals will become more avalanche in the future!

Kals, Österreich - On May 17, 2025, the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the "Haslachgalerie" between Oberpeischlach and Lesach was celebrated. This important project aims to better protect Kalser Strasse from avalanches and stone strokes. The gallery will be about 200 meters long and will be completed by autumn 2026. The total costs amount to almost ten million euros, which Governor Anton Mattle describes as a sensible investment for the citizens and guests of the region. He emphasizes the importance of the gallery for security and accessibility, especially in emergencies.

The wind tube in which the gallery runs is particularly avoidable due to its topography. In the past, this often led to avalanches, some of which resulted in the road lasting several days. Mayor Erika Rogl emphasizes the significant importance of the gallery for medical care and accessibility in an emergency. Kals is known for most of the guests of all East Tyrolean communities; Therefore, the security of arrival and departure is of the highest priority.

expansion of the infrastructure

In addition to the gallery, support walls and leading dams are also planned for the construction project. These measures are crucial in order to be able to safely derive avalanches and murs via the gallery. The retaining walls will be over 100 meters long and up to ten meters high. In order to ensure the maintenance of the traffic routes during the construction work, the gallery is built in parallel to the existing road.

The construction project requires the use of extensive material resources. Around 65,000 cubic meters of earth are moved, 5,600 cubic meters of concrete, 700 tons of concrete steel and 1,800 square meters of shotgun fuse are used. With the completion, the old road is converted into a bike path after completion of the gallery, which will further upgrade the region.

background information on transport infrastructure

The "Haslachgalerie" is part of a larger trend in Austria in which the transport infrastructure is invested. Projects such as the Koralbahn and the Semmering Basist tunnel show that the expansion and safety of the traffic routes are very important. For example, the Koralbahn comprises the Koralmtunnel, which plays a central role at 32.9 km and is operated by ÖBB Infrastructure AG.

In addition, numerous expressway projects, such as the S 7 Fürstenfeld expressway, which is to be completed by the end of 2023, and the S 1 Wiener outdoor ring expressway, which has a total length of 19 km and is to be completed, are promoted. Such major projects are planned not only by ASFINAG, but also by other construction companies and lead to a noticeable improvement in the traffic situation in the country and beyond.

Overall, it can be seen that the construction of the "Haslachgalerie" not only serves security, but also contributes to a more sustainable and attractive region. The measures that are taken here are examples of the continuous improvement of the infrastructure in Austria. Dolomitenstadt , Solidbau .