Saanen bypass construction begins
Here at GstaadLife.com, we're getting a lot of email asking about the Saanen bypass construction. Indeed many Gstaad regulars who are not here right now think that this whole Fernwärme nightmare was related to the bypass. In any event three things are happening this week. Firstly the Fermwärme work is wrapping up and the earth is starting to go back into the trenches dug along the main roads between Saanen and Gstaad. Secondly the groundbreaking ceremony for the bypass construction is tomorrow (Friday) morning. And lastly the authorities have published a helpful leaflet detailing the planned construction for the bypass. Thing is they didn't think to publish it in English...which is why you have us.
As most of you know, the Saanen bypass will relieve the village center from transit traffic beginning in 2010. The new road will loop over the back of Saanen, connecting Saanenmöserstrasse from the Altenstrasse junction with Oeystrasse (direction Rougemont) by way of an open road and a 280 meter tunnel north of the graveyard. The roundabout at the hospital junction will be re-done. And once the bypass is open, Saanen will be closed to through-traffic and the center will be redesigned into a Gstaad-style promenade. With us so far?
The tunnel will be built in summer 2008 and 2009. The agricultural top-soil will be carefully removed, stored and returned according to strict regulations. A 400-meter stretch of Saanenmöserstrasse will be lowered to meet the entrance of the tunnel at a new junction with a roundabout (they do like their roundabouts, don't they?). Meanwhile a new slip road will connect the Altestrasse (the little one that goes up the hill towards the Steigenberger). And the roundabout link to the Kirchgasse will be designed only for bicycles and pedestrians.
During the construction period, Oeystrasse (until October 08) and Saanenmöserstrasse (summer 2008 and 2009) will be open to a single lane of traffic only regulated with traffic lights (which hopefully will be manually controlled during peak times...are you listened AAS Security??). Since construction is impossible during the winter, work will take place in two shifts from 5h00 to 22h00. Particularly noisy activities will be limited to regular construction hours (which are supposedly from 7h00 to 12h00, and 13h00 to 19h00). Loud activities will not be carried out during funerals.
The yellow bits in the three graphics below show the plans of work to be carried out during the next three summers:
Previously:
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