A summer to remember

After almost three months of the summer season, we are slowly able to welcome autumn here in the Pitztal. The days are getting shorter, the first animals have returned from the alpine pastures to the valley, and while we are still enjoying the last days of autumn, the start of the new winter season is already approaching on the Pitztal Glacier.

Behind us lie weeks full of sunshine and excellent hiking weather. And even at over 1,600 metres, this summer was exceptionally warm. However, the high temperatures and heavy rainfall also brought a number of challenges to our municipality.

Time and again during the summer months, mudflows occurred. At the end of July, our hamlet of Plangeroß was also affected: almost simultaneously, mudflows came down at the beginning and the end of the village, burying the road. Fortunately, no one was injured and the road was passable again after just a few hours.

Even more significant were the impacts of a mudslide at the end of June in the hamlet of Bichl. Two houses had to be evacuated as a precaution, parts of the state road collapsed and four bridges were destroyed. The rear Pitztal was suddenly no longer accessible by road – locals as well as numerous holiday guests were temporarily cut off from the outside world.

What happened after that impressively demonstrated what is possible when many people pitch in together.

Work went on day and night. In less than 48 hours, a temporary bypass with traffic light control was set up. Since this was impassable for larger vehicles, work continued – and just a week later a new replacement road was already available. This time also with traffic light control, but with less waiting time and the road could be used by all vehicles.

For this exceptional and rapid service, the Zams regional road maintenance depot has now been presented with the Ö3 Traffic Award excellent.

An award that we in the Pitztal are also particularly pleased about. Because together with the hydraulic engineering office, the construction companies involved and the many volunteers from our fire brigades, it was ensured in the shortest possible time that a completely normal journey into the rear Pitztal was possible again.

A huge thank you to everyone who has been on duty during these days and nights. It is precisely moments like these that show how much cooperation there is in our valley.