Gravel barriers have secured settlement areas and entire city centres during the storms of the past few days. Tons of debris and huge mudflows were slowed down. Work on the protective structures in Pinzgau and Pongau is in full swing.
The excavators are in constant use: rubble thunders onto the loading areas. The next load is then transported away and stored in designated areas. In Pongau alone, ten torrent and avalanche control workers are deployed for clean-up work after storms. “We have around 200,000 cubic metres of material in the ground barriers in the Pongau communities,” says area manager Anton Pichler.
On August 12, a serious thunderstorm cell brewed in Wagrain, Großarl, Dorfgastein, Hüttau, St. Veit and St. Johann. The result was mudslides and landslides. Reassuring to say the least: “The structures worked perfectly,” says Pichler. The city center of Wagrain would not have remained intact without a protective wall in the background. The Großarl federal road is also well protected now: after three storms in July and August, it was not necessary to close access to the valley.
During storms, the debris barriers, which usually consist of several structures, have to absorb enormous forces: “They can carry rocks the size of a VW bus,” says Pichler. Currents can also transport huge tree trunks, which are then slowed down in mud breaker.
It will take days to clear the protective structures
In the recently hard-hit Pinzgau, the work after the storms is in full swing. Even smaller canals became wild torrents due to the water masses that came from the sky. The barriers slowed down tons of material three times in a row within a few days. “We have already achieved a high level of protection,” says Gebhard Neumayr of the torrent control.
The Schüttdorfer Langackergraben and the Schüttbach, where major damage occurred in 2013, are well secured. Barriers also held back a lot of material in the Erlbach and Habichtgraben area in Thumersbach. Work is ongoing in Bruck and Fusch, and a building in Kaprun’s Mengggraben provides a settlement below. The houses remained dry.
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.
