Construction chaos at the Wanktunnel: Farchant fears gridlock!

Construction chaos at the Wanktunnel: Farchant fears gridlock!

Things are currently getting turbulent in Farchant when it comes to traffic routing at the northern junction of the Wanktunnel. The plans are causing heated discussions and concerns in the local council. Local councilors are often dissatisfied with the current proposal, which Michael Fessenmayer from the CSU describes as a “plan confusion”. Gerhard Portele from the Free Voters is also calling for improvements, while Mayor Christian Hornsteiner reports on initial discussions with the responsible authorities. The focus of criticism is also the cycle path between Partenkirchen and Farchant, which is described as anything but clear.

Andreas Lang from the Weilheim State Building Authority presented the new traffic routes that will provide space for the B2 to the tunnel tube. Among other things, a roundabout and various loops are planned. The group of critics is not small: Monika Ott from the SPD warns of a significant increase in traffic and the threat of backlogs in Farchant, while Hornsteiner even speaks of possible block handling at the Wanktunnel on busy days. Portele also expresses his concerns and fears “complete chaos” at the planned intersection. For him, replanning is urgently needed to guarantee a smooth flow of traffic during construction work.

Concerns about cycling and traffic management

There are many concerns about the traffic situation during the construction period. Particular emphasis is placed on the threading of vehicles from the Farchanter Tunnel into the community connection road, as backlogs could arise here. “We have to continue to work on this issue,” is the clear message from the municipality of Farchant, which also suggests creating a straight route with an underpass at the Wanktunnel north portal.

However, the current construction stress is not the only issue affecting the region. Another sensational project is the Kramer Tunnel, whose opening to traffic has now been postponed to 2027. This tunnel, which is supposed to be 3.6 kilometers long, was originally scheduled to open in 2025. The installation of the necessary technology could take around 1.5 years, while other necessary work, such as asphalting, also requires a considerable amount of time. BR reports that the costs of the project have now risen to a total of 360 million euros, which is double the original calculation.

Criticism of transport infrastructure projects

The fate of both tunnel projects is not independent of the greater challenges in road construction. A recent study by Transport & Environment questions whether expanding infrastructure actually brings more advantages than disadvantages. Accordingly, the CO₂ emissions from the projects planned in the Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan could be much higher than the responsible authorities had previously assumed. Benedikt Heyl, data analyst at T&E, notes that the funds provided are not proportional to the actual benefits and calls for a fundamental revision of the existing plan.

The exciting topic of road construction is not only characterized by local challenges, but must also be viewed in the context of larger environmental policy discussions. The developments surrounding the Wank Tunnel and the Kramer Tunnel will definitely remain a hot topic in the region.