Snow clearing on the Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road

After it snowed heavily again above 2,200 m after Easter, the start of snow clearing was postponed by a week. Our team of four has now been in full operation since April 22.


The 60-year-old rotary milling machine was unpacked on April 22, 2024.

Large masses of snow
The clearing work is proving to be quite difficult. On the one hand, there is a lot of snow this year compared to previous years. On the other hand, there is always bad weather and even fresh snow. The risk of avalanches should not be underestimated either. "We are currently only in the area of bend 8 and are dealing with snow depths of up to eight meters," reports Thomas Santer from the road maintenance department of the Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road.

The 16-ton wheel loader drives the snow blower with 400 hp through the Timmels valley.

Heavy equipment
Our snow clearing team receives proven support from a 300 hp, 60-year-old rotary tiller on tracks, a 16-ton, 400 hp wheel loader and a 420 hp Syntrac, which are equipped with the largest and most powerful road snow blowers currently available on the market. "The cutter attachments weigh around four tons and are capable of snow depths of 170 cm and widths of 275 cm," explains road foreman Robert Pixner.

Road foreman Robert Pixner at work.

Opening at the beginning of June at the earliest
On the North Tyrolean side alone, around 300,000 cubic meters of snow have to be cleared from the road layer by layer until the Timmelsjoch at 2,474 m altitude is reached. "It's even more difficult on the South Tyrolean side this year. The risk of avalanches is even greater due to the steepness. What's more, our colleagues are having no luck with the weather and are often condemned to do nothing," says Manfred Tschopfer, describing the situation. Accordingly, the Management Board of Timmelsjoch Hochalpenstraße AG does not expect an opening date before the beginning of June.

The Syntrac in bend 5 with a snow depth of about 5 meters.











We will keep you up to date!