Eastern Switzerland: Wil West project clears important hurdle

Yesterday, the Cantonal Council of St. Gallen approved by a large majority the special credit for the Wil West site development planned directly on the A1. Now a referendum will clarify whether the project with 20 hectares for services, commerce and industry may be realized. According to the Wilwest interest group, 1,750 to 3,000 jobs could be created in the area. It calls the project a "central economic project for eastern Switzerland" at the center of the Zurich-St. Gallen and Wattwil-Lake Constance axes.

The building land for Wil West is distributed over the municipalities of Münchwilen and Sirnach in the west of Wil, 10 hectares each. In addition to industrial, commercial, and service companies, retail, hotels, showrooms, small stores for everyday goods, and educational institutions can also settle here. Construction work on the site development is expected to start in 2025. The Federal Roads Office is planning a dedicated highway connection for the area, but this will not come until 2027 at the earliest.

The decision in the St. Gallen cantonal parliament on the special credit of CHF 35 million with which the area is to be developed was very clear with 80 votes to 27. In March, the legislature of the neighboring canton of Thurgau had already spoken out in favor of the project, also with a clear majority. The referendum is to take place in the fall. The Wilwest office now wants to convince the population with tours of the site and social media activities. (aw)