Barbara Suttner-Widmer from the Swiss Alpine Initiative was invited to participate in a discussion entitled “How much traffic can the Mattigtal take?” about a new bypass through the Mattigtal, a valley North of Salzburg. She is science adviser of the Alpine Crossing Exchange Initiative, which intends to protect Alpine water sources and glaciers. The Initiative is aimed at establishing an equitable distribution of a fixed number of heavy vehicle trips among the various Alpine passes in order to avoid traffic jams and long waiting times for trucks. By this means it seeks to reduce the number of transalpine truck crossings to a tolerable level for people and nature and transfer long-distance freight traffic from road to rail. According to Suttner-Widmer, the Alpine Crossing Exchange could be a solution for the Mattigtal, where a new bypass is planned and locals fear an increase of transalpine heavy road traffic.

“We can not damage nature and threaten future generations by acting irresponsibly” says Karin Kreil from the Association Lebensraum Braunau which was founded to limit the number of vehicles passing the area. Supporters of the new bypass, such as Klaus Berer from the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber also participated in the discussion, which will continue on May 19 at the next meeting of the Lebensraum Braunau Association in Uttendorf.

Source: www.meinbezirk.at

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