Ski resorts in the Salzburg region to merge

The Salzburg region wants to follow several recent examples from other parts of Austria and merge several cable car companies in its ski resorts in Pinzgau and Pongau. The aim of the project is to create a seamless connection from Pinzgau to Pongau, so that winter sports enthusiasts will no longer have to take off their skis when changing slopes and shuttle buses will no longer be needed. The new ski connection is planned to run between Maria Alm (Pinzgau) and Mühlbach (Pongau) and will be just under four kilometres long.

Unlike 20 years ago, when similar plans were already being considered in the Salzburg region, the project has now reached a much more advanced stage, as became clear at a presentation in Salzburg yesterday, Monday. According to the plans, new ski slopes will be built, new snowmaking facilities installed and the existing chairlifts replaced with modern six-seater lifts later this year. The 13.6 million euros budgeted for this work are available immediately, according to Hartwig Mooshammer, managing director of the Maria Alm cable car company. In two further stages over the coming years, the new connecting route and new lift facilities in Hochmais are to be built, at a further cost of 17–20 million euros.

Ski holidays in Austria are set to be further enhanced in quality thanks to the project in the Salzburg region and other similar initiatives in the Alpine republic. By giving preference to companies from the Salzburg region, Mooshammer wants not only to keep the money in the region, but also expects local knowledge to bring advantages during construction. Ideally, the new ski connection from Maria Alm to Mühlbach in the Salzburg region will be completed by 2012, and by 2014 at the latest.