Snow walls, loose stones and missing crash barriers
Before the pass road can be opened, it must first be cleared of snow and checked for safety. After dangerous avalanches have been blown up, the road must be cleared, the surface checked, 7 kilometres of crash barriers installed and rockfall zones secured. Only when all measures have been completed can the pass be opened to traffic.
The snow-covered Gotthard - the perfect stage for snow clearing technology
The team led by Werner Gnos from the Office for National Roads Operations enabled Aebi Schmidt Switzerland to demonstrate several machines on the Gotthard Pass road under real-life conditions. An opportunity to demonstrate modern snow clearing technology exactly where it is often required in everyday life: in the high mountains in challenging weather and road conditions.
The focus was on the Schmidt Supra 4002 high-performance snow blower, which was used around the Gotthard Hospice for so-called layer milling. Large quantities of compact old snow were removed in several passes. The demo machine was operated by Michele Delfoc, one of the most experienced snow blower operators in the Alpine region.
A winter premiere for the Aebi TT 282
A new Terratrac TT 282 was used for the first time on the Gotthard Pass. Its new operating concept, which offers application-specific profiles for various tasks, including snow blower use, was a welcome support for the complex and demanding clearing tasks.
An Aebi TP 470 Vario was also deployed to provide support. Equipped with a Schmidt MPC S26 snow plough and a Schmidt Stratos spreader, the primary task of Aebi's most powerful transporter was to clear the 30 cm of fresh snow that had fallen after the Easter holidays.
We would like to thank the Office for National Roads Operations for the opportunity to demonstrate our machines and equipment under these demanding conditions and especially for the great effort that is required year after year to make the pass crossing possible again for everyone.