Punt Gronda (Russein)

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

The first repairs improved the load-bearing capacity in 1916/17. When traffic was diverted over the new concrete bridge in 1938, the neglected wooden structure was threatened with demolition. To save the day, a girl from Ilanz collected money with other schoolchildren in the surrounding villages by reciting a poem written by the priest Giusep Durschei of Disentis, "The old Russian wooden bridge". This idealism prompted prominent residents to found the association "Pro Punt Russein". With the support of the federal government and the canton, it was possible to raise the necessary funds to save the historic work. Original reinforcement with barely perceptible steel and cable constructions, as well as renovation of all parts, made it possible to extend the service life of this magnificent crossing.