In the Sisslerfeld industrial area in Switzerland, the possibility of building a cable car over the Rhine is being explored. This solution is being considered as part of the overall transportation concept for the Frick-Stein-Laufenburg region.

Sisslerfeld is located in the Fricktal and the cross-border High Rhine region. The area covers around 200 hectares of industrial zone, with approximately 85 hectares still undeveloped. In 2019, the four Sisslerfeld municipalities — Eiken, Münchwilen, Sisseln, and Stein — along with the canton of Aargau and Fricktal Regio, agreed to jointly develop Sisslerfeld as the largest industrial zone in the canton of Aargau.

According to the portal Neue Fricktaler Zeitung, planners expect up to 10,000 new jobs to be created in Sisslerfeld by 2040. However, even today, the aforementioned municipalities, as well as the nearby German town of Bad Säckingen, are heavily burdened due to high traffic volumes.

Earlier this year, the steering committee for the overall transportation concept (GVK) Frick-Stein-Laufenburg was officially established. This project includes the development of the GVK for the Frick-Stein-Laufenburg area as well as a detailed review of a potential new Rhine crossing near Sisseln.

The cable car as an option

One of the possible options is the construction of a cable car. In March, representatives of the cantonal parliament submitted this idea to the government in the form of a motion.

“The government is requested, in connection with the development of the overall transportation concept for the Frick-Stein-Laufenburg area, to examine the possibility of a cable car over the Rhine between Bad Säckingen and Laufenburg, into Sisslerfeld, and to outline the advantages and disadvantages of such a cable car, as well as its impact on traffic flows,” quotes Neue Fricktaler Zeitung from Middle Cantonal Parliament member Alfons Paul Kaufmann.

A bridge alone is not enough

There is also ongoing discussion about whether the old railway connection from Schopfheim to Murg should be reactivated. It has been concluded that the commuter flow from the Freiburg/Lörrach area, which will be heading to Sisslerfeld for work in the future, cannot be handled with the existing road and rail capacity.

Therefore, the question arises whether the planned bridge over the Rhine, without a connection to the German autobahn and without ramps in Eiken, will be an effective solution for the expected commuter traffic.

For this reason, the cable car, along with two large terminals on both sides of the Rhine, could be a good solution. It could potentially alleviate road traffic without requiring additional space for roads, railways, or buses.