Construction of the highway in Upper Valais takes longer than planned
Published: Tuesday, Oct 22nd 2024, 14:50
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Construction of the highway between Brig and Visp in Upper Valais has been delayed due to safety work on the Riedberg tunnel. Commissioning planned for 2026 has been postponed by one year.
This affects the timetable for the completion of the A9 between Brig and Leuk, which is now scheduled for 2027, as announced by the canton of Valais on Tuesday. After several heavy rainfalls, it was determined that large landslides were endangering the safety and stability of the Riedberg tunnel, the surrounding road network and the safety of road users.
On September 19, the Council of State invoked the general police clause to quickly build "a gallery to drain the slope and reduce the deformation of the tunnel". Construction of the tunnel began a month later. The decision to carry out this work was made in consultation with and with the approval of the Federal Roads Office (Astra).
Meanwhile, two new sections will be opened in 2025: the Visp southern bypass in June next year, followed by the Raron-Visp section in October.
The A9 highway in Upper Valais should be completed by 2027, with the exception of the section crossing the Pfynwald forest. According to the canton, the building permit for this final, 8.5-kilometre-long section depends on a decision by the Federal Supreme Court.
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