Controversial toll station

The spectre of the Fernpass tunnel: Nassereith puts up a fight

The state is planning two toll stations to collect the toll on the Fernpass. The one on the Nassereith side is planned not far north of the "Rastland". A disaster for the municipality. This version will "certainly not be approved by the local council", there will be a local inspection on March 28.

Things have been rumbling in Nassereith since the plans for the long-distance pass tunnel became known. The bone of contention is the accompanying toll for the 1.4-kilometre-long "hole", or more precisely the toll station. During the "mayors' tour" at the end of February, Nassereith's village chief Herbert Kröll hoped that "the details are of course still unfinished and a lot still needs to be discussed".

Kröll was primarily referring to the toll station on the Nassereit side, which is planned at the current truck checkpoint (also a chain landing area) just after the "Rastland". Of course, this would not be possible within the municipal area; it would have to be solved differently. As with most existing toll roads, one toll station would suffice, argued Kröll, hoping for a change of heart.

Two toll stations are still planned
On Wednesday, however, the provincial department for traffic and cable car law put its money where its mouth is and the "application for a road construction permit" was publicly announced - even before the decision was made by the provincial parliament. The "notice" describes the Fernpass Tunnel project in detail and could be interpreted as an attack on the Gurgltal community, as the positioning of the toll station has not changed.

Here, several kilometers before the future south portal but 100 meters before the entrance to the campsite, the state wants to position the toll station.(Bild: Daum Hubert)

Campers and locals would be asked to pay
Why are the people of Nassereither so angry? The booth for collecting the fee for using the tunnel and suddenly also the pass would be located around 100 meters before the entrance to the Fernsteinsee campsite. So would all camping guests have to pay the 14 euro fee for a trip to their tent or motorhome (exceptions are not permitted under EU law)? And if locals want to go for a walk on "their" Fernsteinsee, they would also have to pay!

So there will certainly be no positive decision by the local council.

Herbert Kröll, Bürgermeister Nassereith

The same applies when the Nassereither farmers bring their cattle to their mountain pasture. "Certainly not", says BM Kröll, who is in agreement with most of the local councillors. "There will certainly not be a positive municipal council decision. After all, we also have a traditional business in Fernstein that wants to survive. This needs to be solved differently". For example, it is completely incomprehensible why, in contrast to almost all other toll roads, two toll booths are necessary.

Local inspection on March 28
There will be an opportunity to argue on March 28, when a "local inspection on site and an oral hearing" of all "parties" will take place in Nassereith. "I will certainly invite our lawyer to this," says Kröll. The village leader goes one step further: "Just like the people of Außerfern, we also want vouchers". And even if the ban on driving over 7.5 tons is considered a sacred cow, there is no written guarantee that the limit will remain in place.

In any case, the road to the 1.4 km long "hole" under the Fernpass is - as expected - very winding.