Eastern Switzerland Over 3 million Swiss francs for protection against natural hazards in Graubünden

The Graubünden government has approved three protective structure projects to increase safety against avalanches and rockfalls on cantonal roads and a railroad line. The projects cost a total of CHF 3.24 million. The canton and federal government are contributing CHF 2.43 million.

The most expensive project will be realized in the Upper Engadine. A 255-metre-long rockfall protection dam is to be built above the cantonal road near Sils Baselgia GR at a cost of CHF 1.27 million, as the government announced on Monday. The decisive factor for the project was a rockfall in May last year.

CHF 508,000 will flow from the cantonal treasury into the protective dam. In addition, the government ordered a maximum federal contribution of 444,500 francs in accordance with the NFA program agreement with the federal government in the area of "protective structures and hazard bases".

Four avalanche blasting masts near Martina GR

Safety is also to be improved on the cantonal road between Martina GR and the border with Austria. Here, CHF 990,000 has been earmarked for four new avalanche blasting masts. This road is regularly closed during the winter months due to the risk of avalanches. This measure is intended not only to reduce the risk of avalanches for the cantonal road, but also the potential for damage to buildings and the protective forest near Vinadi.

The canton is paying CHF 396,000 towards the project, while CHF 346,500 is to flow into the project from the NFA program agreement.

Replacement for protective structures in Davos

The Rhaetian Railway plans to invest CHF 975,000 in the replacement of the protective structures on the line between Davos Laret and Davos Wolfgang. The canton intends to contribute CHF 390,000 and has a federal contribution of CHF 341,250.

On this railway line, sliding snow barriers, wooden and steel palisades and brick underpinnings protect the railroad infrastructure. However, the structures are partially damaged and therefore severely limited in their protective effect, the government wrote. They are therefore to be replaced by suitable, state-of-the-art protective structures.