Flexenpass
Flexenpass with Flexing -Häusl, in the background Rüfispitze ( 2632 m above sea level. A. )
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The Flex Pass is a mountain pass in the province of Vorarlberg ( Austria ), the upper Lech valley between Warth, Lech and Zürs at 1773 m above sea level. A. connects to the Kloster in Stuben.
The Flex Pass Road ( officially part of the Lech valley road L 198 ) results of Lech and Zürs on the Flex Pass and through the Flex gallery and flows since 1940 at the Alpe Rauz between Stuben and the Arlberg Pass in the Arlberg road (L 197).
History
That the Flexenpass was committed already in prehistoric times, evidenced by the discovery of a Bronze Age ax, the one made to Zürs in the construction of the road. This reported at least Vorarlberg Museum Report for fiscal year 1899. During the late Middle Ages, the flexing gained in importance, at least at that time also a mule track was created. In the 15-16. Century, the mule track over the Flexenpass was referred to as "Highway ". The only regionally used mule never gained a great importance, but always stood in the shadow of the Arlberg Pass.
The modern road
Required for today's street arose after the opening of the Arlberg railway in 1884, was planned Erstbebauung the route of Paul Ilmer. Previously led the most frequently used ways - among other things, the church today about the Lech Tannberg - after the northern Oberstdorf.
On August 3, 1895 architect Johann Bertolini ( 1895-1897 ) began with the construction of the road from Stuben Flex on the Flex Pass to Lech to Warth.
On October 11, 1897, the first section of the new Flex road was inaugurated to the pass. A junction point was west of the Zürser Bach's up Instead of the old mule trail with its many bends ( flexes ) of offices by a constant avalanche-prone steep south-facing slope to Zürs Arlberg road built by the above offices at the Alpe Rauz and laid a new path in the rock. First canopies emerged, accompanied by a tunnel and a bridge over the Hölltobel. The width of the road initially was three meters. 1909 was the road of the Tyrolean Lech Valley finished.
The Flexenstraße in 1933 explained by a regulation of the Federal Government to the main road. Since 1936, the Flex road is regularly cleared in winter and kept passable. Until then, the road was mostly cleared until Pentecost. From 1948 flowed substantial funds from the Marshall Plan in the improvement of avalanche safety of the road.
Tunnel projects
In 2000, plans for a flexing base tunnel from Stuben to Zürs have been known with the aim of a safe winter access from Langen to Lech. The tunnel should result from Stuben to Monzabon -Alpe. This Zürs should be car-free. The Flexenstraße should be shut down in the long term. The Vorarlberg State Herbert Sausgruber presented in 2002 clearly: "For the Erzberg tunnel, the planned safe winter road link to Lech and Zürs, there is no money in the whole history. " After this power word the plans were buried.
Rehabilitation
The State of Vorarlberg wants - as of May 2013 - renovate fundamentally since 1897 existing Flex Gallery in 2018, after in recent years, both the Arlberg and Flexenstraße due to various landslides and rockfalls has been severely damaged and suffered by the security of access to Lech and Zürs has. Originally one wished for, especially in Lech a new tunnel (see above), but also the restoration of the Flex gallery will be able to afford the necessary security access; until 2018, the renovation will be implemented step by step. Danbei the existing gallery needs to be built from scratch in part. In addition, in some areas necessary to lower the roadway, so that the Flex Gallery can be meet today's requirements - temporary road closures will probably be required, they should be made with regard to tourist needs only at night though. The estimated construction and refurbishment costs amount to 16.8 million euros.
Pictures
Flexenpass with Flex gallery overlooking Zürs
Flex Pass road in the area Hölltobel in 1905
Flex Pass road in the area Hölltobel in 2007