Flem Xpress: Groundbreaking ceremony takes place after building permit is granted

The development of the Sardona tectonic arena with a new railway has been a topic of discussion among the residents of Flims for many years. After a long period of discussions about different options, votes, and planning cycles, the symbolic groundbreaking ceremony took place on Wednesday morning, June 29, 2022, at the Flims valley station after the building permit was granted. In attendance were Markus Wolf, CEO of the Weisse Arena Group, Martin Hug, mayor of Flims, Gabriel Derungs, CEO of Erni AG Bauunternehmung, Claudio Casutt, planner/engineer at CWZ Bauingenieure und Planer AG, and Claudio Deplazes, project manager at Cassons AG.

"We are delighted to have received the building permit on schedule and can now begin work on this complex facility featuring new technology. This means we can stick to the timetable of opening the initial phase by the end of 2023 and the entire facility by the end of 2024," says Markus Wolf. Claudio Deplazes is also delighted about the official start of this major project: "The fact that we have now received the building permit and can begin construction was only possible thanks to an experienced and energetic team of local planners, architects, and contractors."

Martin Hug, mayor of Flims, is also relieved that the long-awaited construction project is finally getting underway: "On May 18, 2019, shortly before the municipal vote on the financing of the UNESCO development, we would never have thought that three years later we would be standing here and able to start construction. That makes me all the more delighted about today."

Construction steps until the end of 2022

Even before the official groundbreaking ceremony, approved preparatory work could begin in Startgels. This includes installing construction site facilities, laying utility lines, and building access roads, including signage. The shell of the middle station in Startgels will be completed by fall 2022. In Segnes, the excavation pit will also be secured and excavation work carried out. The support foundations will be built on the section between Foppa and Startgels.

Stages leading up to the opening in 2023/24

The railway will be built in two stages: The two sections Flims–Foppa and Foppa–Startgels will be built and put into operation by the 2023/24 winter season. The existing Flims–Foppa and Foppa–Naraus chairlifts will remain in operation until the end of the 2022/23 winter season. In the second stage, the three sections Startgels–Segneshütte, Segneshütte–Nagens Sura, and Segneshütte–Ils Cugns will be built in 2024 and put into operation for the 2024/2025 winter season. In addition, the Startgels–Grauberg cable car will be dismantled.