Despite unusually high amounts of snow and challenging weather conditions, the clearing crews on the Großglockner High Alpine Road managed the annual passage through the Hochtor. On Friday, April 26, 2024, the rotary plows – Wallack system, which were operated for the first time this year with climate-friendly diesel substitutes made from vegetable oils, met for the breakthrough. The road, a major Austrian landmark, will reopen to traffic from April 27, 2024.

During this time, the weather conditions and challenges followed, with summer temperatures in the valleys and heavy snowfall in the high mountains. Nevertheless, the clearing crews from the north and south were able to deal with the snow masses professionally and work their way to the high gate, which marked the symbolic start of the summer season.

During this breakthrough, not only the clearing crews met, but also important representatives of the tourism sector such as Astrid Steharnig-Staudinger from Austria Advertising as well as Leo Bauernberger from SalzburgerLand Tourismus and Klaus Ehrenbrandtner from Kärnten Werbe. They emphasized the importance of the Großglockner High Alpine Road for tourism in the Alpine regions of Austria and highlighted the unique natural experience that it enables visitors.

Johannes Hörl, board member of Großglockner Hochalpenstraßen AG (GROHAG), emphasized the efforts to bring nature, technology and tourism into harmony. He highlights the successful measures to reduce emissions, including the use of HVO100, an organic fuel that reduces CO2 emissions from rotary plows by 90%. This marks an important step towards sustainability for the road and tourism in the region.