Tunnel Oberau opened: Thousands of visitors walk and drive through the new tube

Created: 05/28/2022, 04:59 am

By: Tanja Brinkmann

Thousands of visitors came to the opening of the new Oberau Tunnel on Thursday.

Cyclists and pedestrians were the first to go through the tube, followed on Friday by cars, trucks and the like. © Christian Fellner

The local bypass that opened on Thursday will bring a new quality of life to the people of Oberauer.

But this tunnel alone is not enough, that was also clear to the federal and state representatives.

After around eleven years of construction, an important bypass on the notoriously congested federal highway towards Garmisch-Partenkirchen has been opened up.

The tunnel for Oberau was opened on Thursday as the longest road tunnel in Bavaria.

The Bavarian Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter (CSU) spoke of a "historic day".

The residents would be freed from noise and exhaust fumes, traffic would progress better. Oberau - a historic moment.

Although, it wasn't just one person.

A good 3000 people witnessed several such moments at noon yesterday.

This included opening the Oberau bypass to traffic, for which numerous guests of honor symbolically cut the ribbon on the east tube.

Just like the delay that some had to put up with because of the traffic jams in front of the Loisachtaldorf, which is typical for a holiday.

This should no longer happen in the future, when cars, buses, trucks and motorcycles will roll through the tunnel unhindered from tonight.

The guests of honor were the first to enjoy this privilege on Thursday.

Led by Alexander Dobrindt, head of the CSU state group in the Bundestag, in his Mercedes 107 SL, they drove through the east tube in vintage cars.

Another historic moment.

The fact that this could be celebrated is mainly due to the tenacity of the people from Oberau.

For a long time, the 3,200 residents suffered from the avalanche of traffic, which tormented its way through their town, especially on public holidays, weekends and vacations.

A situation that began with the construction of the Munich Autobahn in the 1960s and 70s.

"Since then we have been a divided village," emphasized Josef Bobinger, a spokesman for the citizens' initiative traffic relief Oberau (VEO).

Since 2001, he and his fellow campaigners have vented their frustration loudly - never maliciously, always with a good portion of charm and wit, but always very clearly.

For Dobrindt it is therefore clear that they can write success on the flag.

And he.

That was made clear by those who appeared in the blue T-shirts “Oberau says thank you, Alexander!”.

But also the many who just wanted to shake hands with Peißenberger and exchange a few words with him.

No wonder, after all, it was one of his first official acts as the newly elected Federal Minister of Transport to release the funds for the construction of this 260 million euro project in 2014.

"It's nice that people are also aware of that," says Dobrindt, who clearly enjoyed bathing in the crowd.

However, he never tired of reminding us that the Oberau bypass of the B 2 alone would not eliminate the traffic problems in the district.

The Kramer tunnel is already under construction, the groundbreaking for the Auerberg tunnel between the autobahn and the Loisachtaldorf has already taken place.

"We've come a long way there," emphasized Dobrindt.

"I am working flat out to ensure that the Wank tunnel and the looping of the B 23 into the Oberau tunnel are also completed." During his time as minister, he had proclaimed the principle that projects ready for construction had to be financed, and he now expects the same by Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP).

Understandable, finds Michael Theurer (FDP), Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Transport.

He came to Oberau on Wissing's behalf and sent out positive signals "that the overall traffic solution will continue to be implemented".

Everything else doesn't make any sense, since the traffic jam is only moved a few kilometers further.

In view of the number of vehicles that roll through the Loisach Valley, "that's money well spent," said Theurer.

"From our point of view, it will and must continue."

Another person who is also campaigning for this is Bavaria's Minister of Transport, Christian Bernreiter (CSU).

His declared goal: to relieve the region of the traffic avalanche.

"We all have to work together to ensure that as much money as possible flows from Berlin to Bavaria," he said "on this historic day".

With the bypass, "we free Oberau from through traffic and thus achieve more quality of life and safety with less noise and exhaust gases for the citizens".

They will probably only realize what that means in a few days, suspected Mayor Peter Imminger (CSU).

In any case, he has already made an appointment with District Administrator Anton Speer (free voters) to “cross the B 2 ten times in a row without pressing the traffic light”.

This too will be a historic moment.

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It was also an emotional moment for tunnel godmother Magdalena Neuner to hand over her godchild to the public.

"If you were a real kid, you'd have mixed feelings," she said.

The tunnel release, on the other hand, was only positive.

Like everyone who witnessed this moment.

Pastor Andreas Lackermeier and his evangelical colleague Martin Dubberke blessed the bypass, which is intended to bring peace to the residents of Oberau.

Only one will miss the traffic jam.

"Da Simmal" aka Simon Gorke sang with a wink: "I love being stuck in traffic to Oberau."