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The construction of the Saanen bypass tunnel has started (on time) on the western end of the future ring road. The main focus of this first building phase, which will last until September, is the removal of soil and rock to align the Saanenmöserstrasse with the eastern end of the tunnel and the planned roundabout halfway up the hill towards Schönried. Currently there is alternating traffic on the main road above Saanen, with traffic lights positioned just above what's left of the old one-way street that used to lead to the cemetary.

If you're out and about this coming weekend, bear in mind that the Tour de Gruyère cycling race is taking place on Sunday (August 31). This means road closures from Abländschen to Saanen from 9h00 to 12h30 (like anyone actually ever uses this road), at the Mittelberg, Saanen Unterbort, Saanen hospital roundabout, Gstaad, and Gsteig from around 10h30, and in Rougemont and on into the Pays d'Enhaut from about 10h30 through 11h30. You have been warned.

At the recent general assembly of Wasserngrat 2000 AG the executive board announced a 9% increase in year-on-year revenue. Snow-making and increased slope maintenance did however put a drag on results, with upward pressure on operational costs. The board meeting also entertained questions regarding a link up with the Hornberg ski area, but the Wasserngrat made a clear statement that it wishes to remain independent and exclusive and is just fine with its image as an isolated hill. And frankly here at GstaadLife.com, so are we. Asides from the very cogent arguments that it would cost too much, that the access road is too narrow and that the needed authorizations would be very hard to obtain, do we really want the last clear hill on a Saturday to be overrun with boarders from Saanenmöser? In the UK, Stella Artois beer uses the marketing tagline "reassuring expensive". When it comes to Wasserngrat, we say "reassuringly exclusive".

As previously reported, soon every house in Saanenland will have a house number and street address (see Saanenland to introduce house numbering). As of today the street name list and the allocation plan are available for public viewing. Owners are asked to review the plans, especially those of you in such locations where access is possible by two roads. Sure we love our dear chalet names, and for all practical purposes we will keep using them, but for exact administration of property, emergency-response, insurance, deliveries and the census of 2010, "proper" adresses are required. The final addresses are going to be circulated before the end of this year so that all households can adjust their admin to their new addresses no later than January 2010. You can review the proposed address lists here.

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Dominic Longcroft made his first acquaintance with Gstaad and Saanenland when he was a student at Le Rosey. His English parents—also frequent guests of the region—had acquired a chalet in Gstaad in 1980, after their son was accepted by the renowned boarding school. The enthusiasm that Longcroft felt for the region that was kindled at that time has proved enduring. In 2000, after completing his business education in England and after 15 years running his own marketing, services, catering, and public relations business in London, he relocated to Saanenland, and took up residence in an apartment in Lauenen.

After a 12 year legal tug-of-war, construction is finally beginning on the new Grand Hotel Alpina. The 20,000 square meter complex which replaces the old Hotel Alpina that was demolished in 1995, will consist of 135 bedrooms, 14 luxury condominiums, three chalets, and two underground car parks. The project, expected to cost between SFr 180m to 200m, is a joint investment by Marcel Bach and French businessman Jean-Claude Mimran. The first phase of the project involves removing 100,000 cubic meters of earth from the Oberbort (hence all the trucks running up and down the Palace hill), as well as expanding the southern access route to a width of 5.2 meters. “The expansion of the street is part of the construction permit and has been approved by the Supreme Court,” says Bach. The route will not lead directly to the hotel but to an underground traffic complex consisting of two parking garages, complete with roundabouts and 180 parking spaces accessible to cars and trucks. One will be reserved for the hotel and the other designated for the chalet and condominium residents. “There won’t be a single parking space above ground so no vehicle will be seen on the grounds,“ says Bach.