Haslachgalerie officially opens in Kals after avalanche protection works

The 200-metre Haslachgalerie protective gallery on the Kalser Straße in East Tyrol was officially opened on Friday, ORF reported. Traffic had already been allowed through the gallery before the last winter season.

Final work completed in recent months included the cycle path and the final asphalt layer.

The project was prompted in particular by the effects of Storm Vaia in 2018 and the snowy winters that followed, according to the Tyrolean government. The loss of the forest’s protective effect significantly increased the risk of avalanches in the Blasiskagraben area.

The new gallery now protects the regional road directly from avalanches. Avalanche guide dams to the north and south of the gallery provide additional protection.

The main construction work was completed within one building season, allowing the road to open to traffic in late 2025. In spring and summer 2026, work focused mainly on areas outside the protective structure, including a new cycle path along the former road alignment and the final asphalt surface across the entire construction section.

Kals Mayor Erika Rogl said a safe road connection was essential for the municipality, including daily journeys to work and school, access for visitors and travel in medical emergencies. The gallery provided an important additional measure of safety, she said.

Tyrol Deputy Governor Josef Geisler said the project had created a permanent solution for a road section increasingly exposed to natural hazards after severe storms and snowy winters in recent years. Its completion was an important step towards reliable transport infrastructure in East Tyrol, he said.