Transport network 3.5 kilometers of the national road in Prättigau to be rebuilt

The federal government is building a new 3.5-kilometre section of the national road in Prättigau GR. The new N28 section between Jenaz and Küblis complements the existing narrow and winding road. The Rhaetian Railway will also be given a new route there.

As the Federal Council announced on Friday, it has approved the construction of the new N28 section between the Fideris/Jenaz and Küblis/Dalvazza junctions. Following the construction of the new section of national road, the Rhaetian Railway (RhB) will also be given a new, faster route there.

Due to the limited space available, the RhB can only travel through this part of the Prättigau at 45 kilometers per hour. This is to be remedied by a new 1350-metre-long railroad tunnel, which will enable speeds of up to 120 km/h.

Finally, the new transport infrastructure should also improve the situation for non-motorized traffic. Due to the limited space available, this will be routed on a detour via the elevated Fideris through the main Prättigau valley. In future, cyclists will be able to use the old road on the valley floor.

Joint submission procedure

The road and railroad projects are closely linked and interdependent, according to the press release. "The relocation of the railroad into the mountain is a prerequisite for the construction of the new section of road," wrote the Federal Council. For this reason, a joint approval procedure will be carried out for the national road and RhB tunnel in accordance with the Railways Act. In this way, the "complex interdependencies of the two projects can be coordinated in a targeted manner".

The costs for the road project amount to CHF 156 million. The federal government is covering 92 percent of this, with the remainder being borne by the canton. The costs for the railroad line are estimated at CHF 169 million. Construction will start in 2027 at the earliest.