The A9 was also severely affected by the devastating storms two weeks ago. The renovation work is now coming to an end and the Pyhrnautbahn will be open to traffic again from Friday at 11 a.m.
Shortly after the Bösebach junction, near the Gleinalm tunnel, a mud and debris avalanche up to 1.5 meters high broke out after persistent rain on June 8, causing the roadway to be moved completely to the south.
Necessary diversion
The section was immediately closed for safety reasons and traffic has since been routed from St. Michael and Deutschfeistritz in both directions via the S6 (Semmering Expressway) and the S35 (Brucker Expressway).
Then the good news on Thursday: “Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of Asfinag, external experts and construction companies – in total more than 50 people were on site working on the clean-up and safety work – the green light will be available again from June at 9 p.m., 11 a.m. traffic.” according to a statement from road maintenance company Asfinag.
Safety work continues
More than 4,000 hours of work have been invested so far, and many more are likely to follow: “A total of twenty places have been damaged on the affected section. The recovery measures range from removing several cubic meters of earth material from the road to cleaning gutters and repairing nature protection fences,” says regional manager Roland Sticker of Asfinag in an interview with the “Krone”.
The final repair of the slopes, some of which had slipped far away from the highway, will take several weeks. The work is not expected to be completed until the end of August. But Sticker emphasizes: “Safety is already guaranteed!”
80 km/h limit
Towards the north/Voralpenkreuz, the route will be available without restrictions from Friday. Towards the south/playing field, space must be kept free over a length of approximately five kilometers for the ongoing slope renovation. However, as with normal use, two lanes will still be available. However, these are somewhat narrower, which is why a speed limit of 80 km/h is necessary.
tNo “pass” extension
The affected part of the route is passed by approximately 25,000 vehicles every day. Asfinag does not have good news for anyone who hoped that their tunnel card would be extended by the corresponding days: the route toll remains valid for 365 days from the date of issue.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
