Schwanden's New CHF 9.2M Road to Replace Landslide-Destroyed Route by 2028

A new Niderental Road will be built in Schwanden, Glarus, after the original was destroyed by a landslide in August 2023. The project, costing around CHF 9.2 million, will restore vital access to the Niederental Valley. Construction is scheduled to start in early May 2026 and finish by 2028. The landslide in August 2023 left 46 households in Schwanden without homes, though no injuries were reported. The damage was so severe that the original road was declared unsafe and beyond repair. Since then, access to the Niederental Valley has remained heavily restricted.

The new 950-metre road will reroute through Chatzenrittwald forest. Funding will come from multiple sources: the federal government is contributing CHF 5.89 million (64 percent of the total cost), while the canton of Glarus will provide CHF 1.47 million. Together, these funds cover 80 percent of the eligible expenses. The remaining CHF 1.84 million will be paid by the municipality of Schwanden.

With construction set to begin in May 2026, the project aims to restore safe and reliable access to the valley by 2028. The combined efforts of federal, cantonal, and local funding ensure the road's completion. Once finished, it will replace the destroyed route and reconnect the affected community.