Saanen by-pass: light at the end of the tunnel

It's been a long time coming, but construction work on the Saanen by-pass has finally begun. The people of Saanen are embracing this project for the long haul (click here to read more articles on the new by-pass). First discussions took place some 40 years ago, and numerous proposals have come and gone in the meantime. Initially, the planners sought to build a tunnel under the airstrip via the Eggli. More recently a tunnel was proposed beneath the village center, and a low-budget, open road option was also considered. However, cantonal officials deemed each of these projects either too expensive or unsuitable.

Above: diggers will be a permanent feature of the Saanen landscape over the next two years

And so, in light of a hard-wrought final compromise, Saaners are obliged to wait patiently and endure the nuisance of intensive roadworks over the next two years - at least in summer. Eventually, in 2010 they will finally have their very own by-pass. Sure, they had to wait longer than Gstaad, Rougemont, and Chateau-d’Oex. But they’re almost there. Construction will proceed on five different sites. Until November the focus will be on lowering Saanenmöserstrasse, and on installing the key elements of the tunnel.