A new lift connecting the Austrian Alpbachtal ski region with the neighbouring Wildschonau ski region is scheduled to be completed for next winter 2012-13.
Full details of the connection are not yet available but it is known that two eight-passenger gondola lifts, one 1.6km and one 1.8km long are under construction, each capable of carrying 2,400 skiers and boarders per hour.
The first gondola will link the Hankopf lift on the Schatzberg to the Pechalm mid-station at 1460m with a 1.6kmp'iste complete with snowmaking between them.
A second gondola will then run from the Pechalm mid-station to the Pogalm gondola in Inneralpbach providing access to the Alpbach ski area.
Some reports pout the total cost of the project at around 20 million Euros.
The new joint ski area will offer 130km (81 miles) of connected piste.