Association: "Fake news"

Front against a tunnel on the Fernpass continues to grow

The tunnel is to start at the hairpin bend.(Bild: Hubert Daum, Krone KREATIV)

The Fernpass plans continue to cause debate: The Alpen Transit Außerfern (ATA) association - like the Transitforum Austria - is also having a hard time with the state's package. The head of the association even speaks of "fake news" and would also like to involve those affected.

The fact that the 1.4-kilometre-long crest tunnel will increase avalanche safety on the B179 is ridiculous for ATA association head Siegfried Kerle: "The avalanche in the Blindseekurve mentioned here last occurred in February 1999 and could be secured cost-effectively with a protective dam." The claim that the crest tunnel would help protect the environment is also "fake news".

The relevant life cycle assessment study is over ten years old. It speaks of only eleven days of travel traffic in winter, which are caused by the blocking of traffic in the Lermoos tunnel. The claim is only true if the volume of traffic remains constant. In reality, however, transit traffic increases with every expansion, and so do emissions.

We from the Außerfern Alpine Transit Association had been involved in all meetings for a year in 2015. They were exclusively about short and medium-term solutions, not long-term ones.

ATA-Vereinschef Siegfried Kerle

Why aren't those affected involved?
The association has a logical and simple solution for the trucks that are permanently stuck in fresh snow: vehicles that are inadequately equipped on the road must be removed from traffic by the executive on both sides of the pass. The fact that the crest tunnel improves the quality of life of the people of Außerfern is "sheer mockery" and that it is a prerequisite for toll collection is simply wrong. Even the regional building director and the head of the district authority would confirm this.

When Kerle hears that it is about the implementation of the Fernpass strategy, which was developed with citizens' representatives, he has to shake his head again: "We from the Außerfern Alpine Transit Association had been involved in all meetings for a year in 2015. They were all about short and medium-term solutions, not long-term ones. The new long-distance pass package with tunnel and toll was drawn up without citizen representatives."

So if ATA speaks for the majority of the population, the question arises: Why and for whom should the long-distance pass tunnel be built? The state parliament will discuss this on Wednesday and Thursday.