Retrofit of the Fuorcla gondola:
A retrofit sets new standards for sustainable construction
In 1978, the six-person Crap Masegn–Fuorcla–Vorab gondola lift began operating. For nearly five decades, the small white-and-red gondolas transported guests to the Vorab Plateau. On March 30, 2025, the white-and-red gondolas completed their final day of operation. What followed was not demolition, but a retrofit: a fundamental modernization based on the existing structures.
Retrofit Instead of New Construction: Using Resources Efficiently
The core principle of the project is as simple as it is consistent: build what needs to be new and preserve what already exists. About 80 percent of the steel structure along the existing route was preserved. Instead of erecting entirely new supports, only the support heads were replaced. Approximately 80 percent of the concrete foundations at the Vorab and Masegn stations could be reused. New ones were built only where required by the revised load calculations for the new system.
Only the Fuorcla station was completely rebuilt—with the exception of the concrete foundation—as a timber-frame structure with a dark metal cladding, an architectural design that deliberately blends into the Alpine landscape. The new lift was manufactured by Garaventa AG; the cabins were supplied by CWA; and ALPING.CH Gartmann & Joos Bauingenieure AG was responsible for the design.
Greenstyle by the Numbers:
From Summer Construction to the Winter Season: The Project Timeline
On March 30, 2025, the old facility ceased operations. Decommissioning began in April—and at the same time, the first preparatory measures were underway at the stations.
In the summer of 2025, concrete work began at the Vorab and Crap Masegn stations, and Garaventa started technical preparations.
On June 18, 2025, the support heads were dismantled by helicopter.
In the fall of 2025, cable installation, station construction, and technical commissioning took place. System tests, test runs, and safety certifications prepared the facility for acceptance by the Federal Office of Transportation (BAV).
On December 19, 2025, the new 8-person gondola opened right on time for the start of the season.
What's Changing — and What's Staying the Same
The route remains unchanged: Crap Masegn – Fuorcla – Vorab.
What has changed is the capacity: Instead of six passengers, the new CWA cabins can hold eight. The transport capacity has increased to 1,500 to 2,000 passengers per hour. The travel speed is 6 meters per second over a vertical rise of 812 meters. The haul rope has a diameter of 43 millimeters.
The new lift not only improves the ski area’s capacity but also enhances access to the Vorab Plateau, which allows for skiing at altitudes above 3,000 meters in LAAX.
For WAG, the project demonstrates that sustainable infrastructure investments and operational benefits are not mutually exclusive.