Zug,07.01.2009
Motorway opening festival in April 2009
In April 2009 a huge festival will take place to celebrate the opening of the Zurich West By-Pass Motorway (Zürich Westumfahrung). Whereby Zug participates in the cost of the festivities, the city of Zurich, the one to benefit the most, is not paying up.
Express:
• From April 24th to 26th, a festival will take place to celebrate the opening of the Westumfahrung
• Canton Zug is contributing 300,000 francs for the festival.
“The celebration possesses primarily symbolic character.” Thomas Maag, Zurich Building Department.
The Westumfahrung Zurich is the most important Swiss road project of the past decades. The opening of this important artery, which will greatly reduce transit traffic in the city of Zurich, should be celebrated in style.
Originally, Canton Zurich pledged no less than 5 million francs to finance the opening ceremonies and festivities from the 24th to 26th of April 2009. Canton Aargau and Zug (with 300,000 francs) are contributing, but the biggest beneficiary, the City of Zurich, is not contributing anything. The Zurich parliament spontaneously cancelled their 500,000 franc pledged contribution citing the current economic situation.
Canton Zurich has a bit of trouble understanding the decision made by the city of Zurich and regrets that they will not contribute. “It’s not just the missing funds” says Thomas Maag, press speaker for the Building Department. “The celebration possesses primarily symbolic character – it’s a shame that the city of Zurich is sending out that sort of signal”. The canton doesn’t want to spoil the spirit of the festivities. “We’re checking where we can make savings” said Maag. The high costs of the event are due to the many activities which go far and beyond a normal motorway opening. “The population should be able to get an interesting insight into this construction of the century". At the end of January we will present the program.
For Heinz Tännler, Building Director in Zug, Canton Zug’s participation in the festivities is a question of honor: "The Westumfahrung and the opening of the Knoaueramt motorway will bring our canton closer to the agglomeration Zurich and the airport, the population will benefit from that”. It is foreseen, according to Tännler, that canton Zug will present themselves by way of “Entrances” to the festival complex and a pavilion. In addition, the Zuger population will get the opportunity to bicycle or take a bus on the motorway through the Knoaueramt which will officially open in November 2009.
Source/Media Partner: Neue Zuger Zeitung