Abandoned main road

lip · June 14th, 2008, 10:08 PM

A very unusual sight in Switzerland.

This road through the steep Rongellen gorge is called "Das verlorene Loch" (the lost hole). This part of the treck over the alps was used as early as 1500 BC. Later it was used by the Romans as a trade path. Enlarged to a road in 1821, rebuilt to a main road 1958, but abandoned since 1996 because of the new and modern autobahn and main road tunnels nearby. The road is now closed for motorised traffic, but is still open to cyclists and hikers. The use of the road is at one's own risk.

As you can see the road is still somehow maintained, because at some parts the grass on the road sides was freshly cut the day I was there. But the damage of stone falling and landslides are very notable too. At some parts the crash barriers are already smashed to pieces, and the road has lost half of her width.

Nature taking over

From now on I will visit this road section once a year to document the decline. Should'nt keep long until the road isn't save anymore and in a few years the road will be completly gone.

Greetings, lip

Spazatao · June 14th, 2008, 10:12 PM

Takumi would like it! I find abandoned things cool in their own way, and this road certainly is.

avanti · June 14th, 2008, 10:16 PM

wow, would love to ride there! Can I go with my motorcycle or is it strictly bicycles and feet..?

could you put it on a map for me, like google maps?

Viper007Bond · June 14th, 2008, 10:23 PM

We have something very similar (well, as similar as you can get on this side on the pond) here in Oregon: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histori..._River_Highway

It was actually based on Switzerland's Axenstrasse.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Mitchell_Point_tunnel_(The_World%27s_Work).jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/Oneonta_tunnel_(The_World%27s_Work).jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/Vistahouse.jpg

lip · June 14th, 2008, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avanti

wow, would love to ride there! Can I go with my motorcycle or is it strictly bicycles and feet..?

could you put it on a map for me, like google maps?

Here:

http://thumb.phyrefile.com/a/an/anonymous/2008/06/14/vl.jpg

Orange=Autobahn tunnel
Yellow=Main road tunnel
White=Abandoned main road

The road is now closed for cars and motorcycles. It is still driveable for a motorcycle, but I will advise against it, because at the exact place where this old road merges into the newly built one, the swiss police make random road side controls. And I don't think they would like to see you coming up the footpath (can be seen on my last pictures) on your motorcycle. images/smilies/mrgreen.gif

Greetings, lip

Viper007Bond · June 14th, 2008, 10:52 PM

I wanna go there. images/smilies/ohmy.gif

TomCat · June 15th, 2008, 02:53 AM

Awesome pictures. Looks like fun. I'd love to Cycle through there. images/smilies/biggrin.gif

avidvideo · June 15th, 2008, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

I wanna go there. images/smilies/ohmy.gif

killpanda · June 15th, 2008, 01:04 PM

I love abandoned things images/smilies/biggrin.gif

p0w3r · June 15th, 2008, 04:59 PM

can someone say rally special stage? images/smilies/mrgreen.gif

lip · July 5th, 2008, 08:35 PM

More abandoned stuff:
I like the strange sad/creepy feeling such places are emitting.

This is the story of the "Restaurant Walensee" at the south border of Lake Walen in Switzerland. Made a short visit today.

Built in the early 1980's, this was a very busy and scenic place for some time. Open 365 days of the year. The uppermost floor was even a little hotel with a few rooms. During my childhood, this restaurant was always a stopping place for a meal while my family and I were underway for the usual weekend adventure in our car.

The road under the restaurant is part of the swiss autobahn network, but because of the natural space problem between the lake and the steep rock wall, it was only built as a single carriageway with autobahn status. The speed limit was/is only 80km/h. Soon enough the massive increase of traffic with cars and lorrys clogged this bottleneck up, and traffic jams became a daily event. And one car with a breakdown, and the road came to a halt anyway...

To sort the problem and to expand the road nevertheless to a normal full 4 lane dual carriageway, a two lane tunnel has been constructed for the whole lenght of the lake (see lower orange line on google earth pic) carrying the traffic in one direction, giving both lanes of the old road free for traffic into the other direction.

But this meant cutting 50% of the guests for the Restaurant Walensee away. Furthermore, a new Restaurant/Service Station has been built only 8 kilometers away, at a spot where all 4 lanes are connected again.

Since the Restaurant was only accessible from the autobahn or from the lake, cycle and hiking paths had been built to attract more costumers, but to no avail. The Restaurant Walensee ran out of business. This was around 8 or 10 years ago. Nothing has happend since.

Google earth location:

Pics:

http://thumb.phyrefile.com/a/an/anonymous/2008/07/05/01.JPG

http://thumb.phyrefile.com/a/an/anonymous/2008/07/05/011.JPG

http://thumb.phyrefile.com/a/an/anonymous/2008/07/05/02.JPG

http://thumb.phyrefile.com/a/an/anonymous/2008/07/05/03.JPG

http://thumb.phyrefile.com/a/an/anonymous/2008/07/05/04.JPG

http://thumb.phyrefile.com/a/an/anonymous/2008/07/05/05.JPG

http://thumb.phyrefile.com/a/an/anonymous/2008/07/05/06.JPG

http://thumb.phyrefile.com/a/an/anonymous/2008/07/05/07.JPG

http://thumb.phyrefile.com/a/an/anonymous/2008/07/05/08.JPG

http://thumb.phyrefile.com/a/an/anonymous/2008/07/05/09.JPG

http://thumb.phyrefile.com/a/an/anonymous/2008/07/05/10.JPG

http://thumb.phyrefile.com/a/an/anonymous/2008/07/05/11.JPG

http://thumb.phyrefile.com/a/an/anonymous/2008/07/05/12.JPG

http://thumb.phyrefile.com/a/an/anonymous/2008/07/05/13.JPG

Some grafitti had been removed in the underpass but otherwise no damage or vandalism has occured in all those years since the closure. Welcome to switzerland. images/smilies/wink.gif

Greetings, lip

WillDAQ · July 5th, 2008, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lip

More abandoned stuff:
I like the strange sad/creepy feeling such places are emitting.

This is the site for you...
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/index.php

lip · July 5th, 2008, 09:53 PM

Thanks for the link WillDAQ, but there is a little problem with that...

Greetings, lip

fbc · July 6th, 2008, 12:37 AM

That looks like an amazing spot - great view over the lake.

cameraman288 · July 6th, 2008, 06:15 AM

holy fuckballs

i want that

WillDAQ · July 6th, 2008, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lip

Thanks for the link WillDAQ, but there is a little problem with that...

Greetings, lip

The site recently changed owners, clearly the new ones are not quite so friendly images/smilies/sad.gif

francis · July 9th, 2008, 08:54 PM

Great spot to take photos lip images/smilies/blink.gif

June 14th, 2008, 10:08 PM	#1
lip Joined: Sep 2nd, 2005 Last Online: August 26th, 2008 Location: Switzerland Posts: 288 Rep Power: 14	Abandoned main road A very unusual sight in Switzerland. This road through the steep Rongellen gorge is called "Das verlorene Loch" (the lost hole). This part of the treck over the alps was used as early as 1500 BC. Later it was used by the Romans as a trade path. Enlarged to a road in 1821, rebuilt to a main road 1958, but abandoned since 1996 because of the new and modern autobahn and main road tunnels nearby. The road is now closed for motorised traffic, but is still open to cyclists and hikers. The use of the road is at one's own risk. As you can see the road is still somehow maintained, because at some parts the grass on the road sides was freshly cut the day I was there. But the damage of stone falling and landslides are very notable too. At some parts the crash barriers are already smashed to pieces, and the road has lost half of her width. Nature taking over From now on I will visit this road section once a year to document the decline. Should'nt keep long until the road isn't save anymore and in a few years the road will be completly gone. Greetings, lip

June 14th, 2008, 10:16 PM	#3
avanti Joined: Jul 21st, 2005 Last Online: 05:24 PM Location: Milano, Italia Posts: 2,012 Car: 2 cars + 3 bikes Rep Power: 35	wow, would love to ride there! Can I go with my motorcycle or is it strictly bicycles and feet..? could you put it on a map for me, like google maps? __________________ \|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\| Ride, Eat, Sleep, Repeat.

June 14th, 2008, 10:23 PM	#4
Viper007Bond Lazy Head Dude Joined: Sep 21st, 2003 Last Online: 02:14 PM Location: Portland, Oregon Age: 24 Posts: 20,127 Car: Dodge Viper (I wish!) Rep Power: 224	We have something very similar (well, as similar as you can get on this side on the pond) here in Oregon: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histori..._River_Highway It was actually based on Switzerland's Axenstrasse. __________________ Fight back against the evil Quiky by +1'ing this post! There is no replacement for displacement. - Wolfgang Bernhard, Chief Operating Officer, Chrysler Group talking about the Dodge Viper SRT-10 ... I ask Herb Helbig, vehicle synthesis manager for SRT and a member of the original Team Viper development group since day one, if they'd ever thought of adding traction control. "It comes with two," he says, pointing at my feet. "Learn to use them." Got it. - Motor Trend on the 2006 Dodge Viper Coupe, November 2005

June 14th, 2008, 10:52 PM	#6
Viper007Bond Lazy Head Dude Joined: Sep 21st, 2003 Last Online: 02:14 PM Location: Portland, Oregon Age: 24 Posts: 20,127 Car: Dodge Viper (I wish!) Rep Power: 224	I wanna go there. __________________ Fight back against the evil Quiky by +1'ing this post! There is no replacement for displacement. - Wolfgang Bernhard, Chief Operating Officer, Chrysler Group talking about the Dodge Viper SRT-10 ... I ask Herb Helbig, vehicle synthesis manager for SRT and a member of the original Team Viper development group since day one, if they'd ever thought of adding traction control. "It comes with two," he says, pointing at my feet. "Learn to use them." Got it. - Motor Trend on the 2006 Dodge Viper Coupe, November 2005

June 15th, 2008, 02:53 AM	#7
TomCat Joined: Dec 11th, 2005 Last Online: 02:45 PM Location: Chandler, Arizona Age: 24 Posts: 3,153 Car: 2004 Chrysler PT Turbo; 1985 Toyota 4Runner Rep Power: 37	Awesome pictures. Looks like fun. I'd love to Cycle through there. __________________ When in doubt, throttle out.

June 14th, 2008, 10:12 PM	#2
Spazatao Joined: May 10th, 2006 Last Online: 06:17 PM Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Age: 21 Posts: 580 Car: Taxis Rep Power: 11	Takumi would like it! I find abandoned things cool in their own way, and this road certainly is.

June 15th, 2008, 01:04 PM	#9
killpanda Joined: May 22nd, 2004 Last Online: 04:11 PM Location: France :-) Age: 22 Posts: 589 Car: 2001 Ford Fiesta 1.8TDdi Ghia Rep Power: 21	I love abandoned things __________________ Yep !

June 15th, 2008, 04:59 PM	#10
p0w3r Joined: May 21st, 2004 Last Online: 06:51 AM Location: New York City! Age: 19 Posts: 1,103 Car: 2008 Audi A4 2.0T Rep Power: 19	can someone say rally special stage?

July 5th, 2008, 08:35 PM	#11
lip Joined: Sep 2nd, 2005 Last Online: August 26th, 2008 Location: Switzerland Posts: 288 Rep Power: 14	More abandoned stuff: I like the strange sad/creepy feeling such places are emitting. This is the story of the "Restaurant Walensee" at the south border of Lake Walen in Switzerland. Made a short visit today. Built in the early 1980's, this was a very busy and scenic place for some time. Open 365 days of the year. The uppermost floor was even a little hotel with a few rooms. During my childhood, this restaurant was always a stopping place for a meal while my family and I were underway for the usual weekend adventure in our car. The road under the restaurant is part of the swiss autobahn network, but because of the natural space problem between the lake and the steep rock wall, it was only built as a single carriageway with autobahn status. The speed limit was/is only 80km/h. Soon enough the massive increase of traffic with cars and lorrys clogged this bottleneck up, and traffic jams became a daily event. And one car with a breakdown, and the road came to a halt anyway... To sort the problem and to expand the road nevertheless to a normal full 4 lane dual carriageway, a two lane tunnel has been constructed for the whole lenght of the lake (see lower orange line on google earth pic) carrying the traffic in one direction, giving both lanes of the old road free for traffic into the other direction. But this meant cutting 50% of the guests for the Restaurant Walensee away. Furthermore, a new Restaurant/Service Station has been built only 8 kilometers away, at a spot where all 4 lanes are connected again. Since the Restaurant was only accessible from the autobahn or from the lake, cycle and hiking paths had been built to attract more costumers, but to no avail. The Restaurant Walensee ran out of business. This was around 8 or 10 years ago. Nothing has happend since. Google earth location: Pics: Some grafitti had been removed in the underpass but otherwise no damage or vandalism has occured in all those years since the closure. Welcome to switzerland. Greetings, lip Last edited by lip; July 6th, 2008 at 06:15 AM.

July 5th, 2008, 09:53 PM	#13
lip Joined: Sep 2nd, 2005 Last Online: August 26th, 2008 Location: Switzerland Posts: 288 Rep Power: 14	Thanks for the link WillDAQ, but there is a little problem with that... Greetings, lip

July 6th, 2008, 12:37 AM	#14
fbc Mantastic! Joined: Jan 8th, 2005 Last Online: 01:40 PM Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 33 Posts: 9,381 Car: 2006 MY07 Astra SRi Turbo Rep Power: 54	That looks like an amazing spot - great view over the lake. __________________ www.sniffpetrol.com

July 6th, 2008, 06:15 AM	#15
cameraman288 Joined: Jun 9th, 2008 Last Online: 03:40 AM Location: houston texas Posts: 30 Car: you dont wanna know Rep Power: 0	holy fuckballs i want that

July 9th, 2008, 08:54 PM	#17
francis Joined: Mar 11th, 2007 Last Online: August 24th, 2008 Location: VDC, Portugal Age: 26 Posts: 483 Car: 98´Impreza GT Rep Power: 13	Great spot to take photos lip __________________ »»My Flickr Album«« Greetings from Portugal...

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