The clearing squads proceeding from the Salzburg and Carinthian side met in the morning near the highest point of the panoramic road. The connection was thus cleared of snow and will be released for the summer season on Wednesday, April 27th, together with the access road to the Edelweiß-Spitze (2,571 meters) and the glacier road (to the Gasthaus Schöneck).
Some eight meter high snow walls
Even if the amounts of snow this year have not reached those of previous years: the crest route in the high mountains is still lined with high walls of snow. According to the road operator GROHAG, there were eight meters of snow in some places. As in the almost 70 years before, the blue Wallack rotary plows were used to clear the road again in the past few weeks. The 1953 vehicles, each weighing 15 tons, were supported this year by two modern 420 hp “SYN TRAC” tractors equipped with snow blowers.
However, GROHAG assured that this should not be taken as an indication that the end of the four historic rotary plows is approaching – even if spare parts for the Wallack tillers are now difficult to obtain and some of them have to be manufactured in-house. This year, however, it was possible to improve the environmental balance of the classic cars by using synthetic alternative fuel. This should burn cleaner than conventional diesel fuel and produce 40 percent less nitrogen oxide and 70 percent fewer soot particles. That is why GROHAG wants to convert its entire vehicle fleet to synthetic fuel.
Source: Nachrichten
