Construction of a remarkable new giant gondola lift linking two ski areas by world famous Kitzbuhel in Austria is well underway and looks like being the major engineering achievement of the 2004-5 season. Kitzbuhel's lift company have dubbed the new lift "the most spectacular gondola in the world."

The Doppelmayr built lift will make the link between the Hahnenkamm/Pengelstein and Jochberg/Resterhohe sectors a reality, decades after it was first envisaged. Recent advances in ropeway technology have made it possible to link the two areas across the Saukasergraben valley in a single span, using triple cables to support giant gondola cabins.

The new lift will make long standing dreams of making the areas 'Ski Safari' skiable in both directions a reality at last and greatly increase the full lift-linked terrain in the area.

The combination of length (3610m - more than two miles), span (maximum 2,507m - more than a mile and a half) and clearance above the ground (up to 400 metres or 1300 feet) make the project unique in the world to date.

The 24 gondola cabins will take 11 minutes to make the journey and have a combined capacity of 3200 skiers per hour. Work began on 26th September last year, three days after the building permit was granted, opening is planned for this December.