Strada statale 44 bis Passo del Rombo

State Highway 44bis shield}}
State Highway 44bis
Strada statale 44bis
Passo del Rombo
Route information
Maintained by ANAS
Length29.51 km (18.34 mi)
Existed1960[1]–present
Major junctions
FromSan Leonardo in Passiria
ToRombo Pass
Location
CountryItaly
RegionsTrentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
Highway system
SS 44 SS 45
Strada statale 44 bis at Rombo Pass

Strada statale 44 bis Passo del Rombo (SS 44 bis) is an Italian state highway 29.51 kilometres (18.34 mi) long in Italy located in the region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol that connects Passiria with Austria.

It originates in San Leonardo in Passiria from Strada statale 44 del Passo di Giovo and ends at the Austria–Italy border, then continuing on the Austrian side with the Ötztalstraße. The road, detached from the SS 44 del Passo di Giovo, continues to climb the Passiria passing through Moso in Passiria and reaches the Austrian border after just under 30 kilometres (19 mi) at the 2,474 metres (8,117 ft) of Rombo Pass, while the other state road deviates to go up a lateral valley towards Monte Giovo Pass.

History

The SS 44 bis originates from a military road that was built under Benito Mussolini from 1933 up to two kilometers from the pass, in order to be used for an offensive against Austria in the event of a war. Its construction was stopped after Mussolini and Hitler had concluded the [Axis powers|Berlin-Rome axis]]. The plan to build a road over the Timmelsjoch was taken up by Austria soon after the Second World War. It was significantly advanced by the then regional councilor and later governor Eduard Wallnöfer, himself a native of South Tyrol. In 1959, the pass road was opened on the Austrian side. On September 15, 1968, the road connection, now designated as the public SS 44 bis, was officially opened on the Italian side.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Classificazione a statale della strada dall'innesto con la strada statale n. 44 in San Leonardo in Passiria per Moso al confine austriaco".
  2. ^ www.tecneum.eu: Die Timmelsjoch-Hochalpenstraße

See also

Other Italian roads

Media related to Strada Statale 44 bis Passo del Rombo at Wikimedia Commons