 Upon completion in 1865, the Axenstrasse was the first way to get to Uri that did not involve navigating Lake Lucerne.The engineer, "Landamman" (cantonal council's president) of Uri, and Federal Councillor of State Karl Emanuel Müller (1804–1869) initiated the first road for horse-drawn carriages.Construction on a new road to connect Flüelen to Brunnen began in 1861, and was completed in 1865.