As of: January 27, 2024, 6:43 a.m
By: Johannes Welte
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A rock has fallen on the cycle path in Valsugana in Trentino.
The path is closed until further notice.
© Tiziano Rossi/Facebook
A series of violent rock falls is causing great concern in northern Italy.
An important road and a train connection were closed.
And a cyclist suddenly found himself in front of a huge boulder.
Valbrenta – The Valsugana between Trento in the Adige Valley and Bassano del Grappa on the edge of the Alps north of Venice is an insider tip among Italy fans.
Here lies the idyllic Lake Caldonazzo and the prominent health resort of Levico Terme.
In addition, a well-developed toll-free road leads through the idyllic valley of the Brenta River at the southern foot of the Dolomites towards Venice.
Series of rock falls in Italy: Hit one of the best developed cycle paths in the Alps
One of the best developed cycle paths in northern Italy also winds through the sometimes very narrow rocky gorges.
Last but not least, a train line leads from Trento to the picturesque capital of the famous pomace schnapps - Bassano del Grappa.
Now all connections are closed due to several rock falls.
On Wednesday, pensioner Tiziano R. from the village of Valstagna in Valsugana wanted to take a tour on the cycle highway through Valsugana.
Suddenly, in the small town of Enego, he found himself standing in front of a rock weighing several tons that had fallen onto the slope - just in front of a gallery that is supposed to protect the cycle path from such rock falls.
Mayor shocked - the second rock fall within a few days
The mayor of Enego, Marco Frison, had the accident site inspected; on the slope above the fallen boulder there were other boulders hanging on the abyss, only held in place by branches.
According to ildolomiti.it
, the mayor had the cycle path
closed immediately.
It is questionable whether it will be secured again by spring, when the tourists come.
Already on January 12th there was a massive rock fall ten kilometers further south in the same valley, which buried the state road and the railway tracks through the Valsugana.
Here, too, the rock masses thundered onto the road and rails directly in front of a gallery.
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All traffic arteries through the valley are cut off
The province of Vincenza immediately ordered a 45-day closure of a ten-kilometer stretch of state highway.
The old road that runs through the valley on the other bank of the Brenta was also closed.
In addition, rail traffic was ordered to be suspended for two months.
Venice can now only be reached by long detours for residents of the valley.
The toll-free shortcut from Trento to Venice is therefore a thing of the past for the time being.
How long the repairs and rock stabilization work on the traffic arteries will actually last is uncertain.
Tiziano R's post is being discussed vigorously on Facebook: "This will take months and months," writes a Valentino B. "It's not just about clearing away a stone, but about securing an entire mountainside," replies a Paolo G .
Is climate change to blame?
A Claudio B. fears: “Now the drama is starting again about who is responsible where.” The users argue about the cause: “Climate change,” asks a Michele P. in the room.
A Francesco S. points out: “There has always been rubble at the foot of the rock walls.” A Beatrice F. explains: “The large temperature difference between day and night puts a strain on the rock.” In the past few weeks in Valsugana there have been constant changes between Frost and plus temperatures given.
In recent months, several rock falls and entire mountain falls have rocked the Alps in Austria and Italy.
Most recently, two powerful rock avalanches occurred on Lake Garda.
Most recently, a rock broke out of a wall on the Birnhorn near Zell am See.