Punt Gronda (Russein)

For the expansion of the Oberländerstrasse, the Small Council decided on 9 January 1857 to have a bridge built over the Russeinschlucht. The municipalities of Disentis and Sumvitg together supplied 450 logs for the construction and another 400 for the scaffolding. For the logging work and transports Fr. 18900.-- and for the erection Fr. 21900.-- had to be spent. The bridge is an early example of Howe's girder system in Switzerland. The work, built with simple craftsmanship, represented a tremendous achievement at the time.

The first repairs improved the load capacity in 1916/17. When traffic was routed over the new concrete bridge in 1938, the neglected wooden structure was threatened with demolition. To the rescue, a girl from Ilanz collected money with other schoolchildren in the surrounding villages by reciting a poem "The Old Russein Wooden Bridge" written by the priest Giusep Durschei of Disentis. This idealism led prominent residents to found the association "Pro Punt Russein". With the support of the Confederation and the canton, it was possible to bring together the necessary funds to save the historic work. Original reinforcement with barely perceptible steel and rope constructions, as well as renovation of all parts made it possible to extend the service life of this magnificent transition.