"Life and limb in danger": masses of tourists roll over Kochel and Walchensee - the "collapse" is imminent

The rush of visitors to the region reached new dimensions on Friday. A normal daily routine for the locals is hardly possible due to the high volume of traffic. 

• On the bridging day to Corpus Christi , the south of the Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen district was once again overrun by masses of tourists.
• Things were particularly wild around Kochel and Walchensee - "I've never seen anything like it," says Kochel's mayor.
• He sees "life and limb in danger". Even the riot police were stuck in traffic .

Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen - It can actually be worse: The sheet metal avalanche that rolled into the Kochel and Walchensee region and back again on Friday, in the opinion of some, has eclipsed everything previously seen. "I've never seen anything like it," said Kochel Mayor Thomas Holz (CSU) , looking at the rush of visitors and the resulting traffic chaos . "All dams are broken."

What started around Bad Tölz didn't get any better towards Lake Kochel and Walchensee. From the morning until the early afternoon, traffic backed up to Kochel am See - coming from the north in part already from the Pessenbach industrial estate, coming from the west again beyond Schlehdorf. 

These traffic jams attempted to bypass numerous motorists on dirt roads and side streets in residential areas. According to Holz, the police have at least partially prevented this behavior. "Since neither children nor older residents expected through traffic, it was sometimes really dangerous."

Corona and bridging day around Kochel: "Every corner tucked away"

The parking lot situation was chaotic according to the rush. "Every free spot was parked - regardless of losses," said Holz. The Ötzgasse in the Ort district, for example, where a hiking trail to the Rabenkopf begins nearby, was completely blocked. Residents would have put garbage cans and flower pots outside, so that at least the driveways to their houses remained free. In Holz's view, many people accept a parking ticket: "If you've been standing in a traffic jam for so long, then the few euros are probably not important."

It is impossible to keep a distance: On Friday, numerous people looking for relaxation frolicked on the banks of the Walchensee.

© Water watch

The rush at the Walchensee was also "brutal", said Alois Grünwald from the water watch. "The vehicles were at every nook and corner and there were crowds of people." Fortunately, there was not much to do for the water rescue service. Like wood, Grünwald emphasizes that day tourists are very welcome. However, it could not be that those seeking relaxation thought that they were parked and parked where they wanted in the lawless area. "Everyone should stick to the rules," said Holz and Grünwald in unison.

Vacationers rush: riot police help Tölzer and Kochler colleagues - and is stuck in a traffic jam

Only in the Jachenau did the big chaos fail to materialize. According to Vice Mayor Josef Danner, this is solely due to the fact that Austria and the Engtal are open again. "This will definitely eliminate 2,000 cars," says Danner. But even without them, the Sonnental Danner was very full: the provisional car park in Laich was again fully occupied with 300 cars. As reported, a farmer is making the meadow available at least for this summer.

The makeshift parking lot in Jachenau with 300 spaces was completely full.

© ie

The Tölzer and Kochler police again received support from the riot police on Friday . "But it was stuck in a traffic jam," says Andreas Rohrhofer, deputy chief of police at Bad Tölz. According to Rohrhofer, his officials, who were out and about in the Kochel and Walchensee region on Friday, also spoke of dimensions never seen before. From the police point of view, there were no major incidents. Rohrhofer counted 88 parking violations in the Kochel and Walchensee areas as well as in the Jachenau and Lenggries on Friday evening . 

In view of facts like these, one thing is certain for wood: “Our capacity limits have been exceeded. We are on the verge of collapse . ”One could only speak of luck that nothing major had happened. In an emergency, the rescue workers would hardly have gotten through the parked escape routes . "Body and life is clearly in danger here."

Kochel in the chaos of holidaymakers - Mayor Holz: "Will act decisively"

Apart from that, the situation is unbearable for the residents, a normal daily routine is no longer possible. "Anyone who wanted to shop in Kochel on Friday was in a losing position." The bathing season had not even started. "If this continues, we will be in the summer in traffic suffocating," said Wood and promised, "As the public appeals have not delivered the desired results, we will not look longer, but act decisively." What measures he means exactly, the politician has not yet revealed. He first wanted to talk to the responsible bodies.

Similar touristy places have recently experienced something similar - such as the village of Eschenlohe at the foot of the Alps.

Also read:

Prevent traffic collapse at Lake Walchensee: signs, controls and more parking spaces should help

Corona madness on Lake Walchensee: Photo from Kochel station shows brutal consequences of the onslaught