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Construction Diary Always up to date on the new funicular in Hallstatt
Bridge Transport by Helicopter in the Hallstatt High Valley Calendar Week 24
As part of the ongoing renovation work, a section of the panoramic bridge in the Hallstatt high valley had to be temporarily removed to make room for the construction crane. The second part of the bridge as well as the visitor lift will remain in place.
The bridge was originally built for the Upper Austrian Provincial Exhibition in 2008 and has a total weight of 3.9 tons. To transport it, Austria’s largest civilian transport helicopter, the “Super Puma,” was required.
After two days of intensive preparation—including the removal of railings and floor panels to reduce weight—the time had come on June 4: before the Salzbergbahn began operating at 9:00 a.m., the bridge structure was flown out of the high valley by helicopter and temporarily stored in the Hallstatt Echerntal.
Once construction is completed and the new Salzbergbahn begins operation in June 2026, the panoramic bridge will again be accessible to visitors of the Salzwelten.
During the construction phase, an alternative route to the Rudolfsturm has been created: temporary stairways continue to allow access. However, visitors should be in good physical condition—around 800 steps (round trip) must be managed.
Kickoff for the New Funicular in Hallstatt Calendar Week 20
On April 22, construction work officially began on the new funicular in Hallstatt. The first step involved dismantling the existing waiting hall, the ticket office at the valley station, and the old mountain station. Additionally, a new stairway system was built in the high valley to better guide the flow of visitors.
Special attention was given to safety: to protect guests during the construction phase, a wooden overhead structure was installed at the valley station to shield against potential hazards. The recent holidays, which saw up to 2,000 visitors per day, further tested the staff and organizational logistics.
The limited space in Hallstatt requires careful coordination. Ongoing operations at the Salzwelten and the salt mine must be synchronized with the construction measures. Close cooperation among all parties – from construction management to Salzwelten staff and mine operators – has proven effective in practice. Regular coordination meetings help to quickly identify and respond to challenges.
All measures are currently proceeding according to plan. Since the construction takes place in an archaeologically sensitive area, experts are closely monitoring the process. While findings from the Hallstatt period are expected in the high valley, relics from the Roman era may emerge at the valley station.
At the same time as construction began, a time-lapse camera was installed. It documents the progress every 15 minutes. Interested visitors can regularly check the Salzwelten website for the latest updates – including images and reports directly from the construction site.
