The Wallensteinstraße in Vienna-Brigittenau is referred to as a "blemish." The business life suffers from the declining customer base, who often shop at new venues in the area. Manfred Walouch, operator of a belt and haberdashery shop, reports a dramatic drop in sales: "We've simply lost a relatively large number of old customers."

Traffic Calming in Wallensteinstraße as a Solution for Business Closures

Bernhard Kern, who sells records, sees traffic calming as a way to revitalize the street: "If the street is perceived as a social meeting point and not just a thoroughfare, it could be a gain for Wallensteinstraße." The current state, where trams, cyclists, and drivers share the space, often creates dangerous situations. Pedestrians and cyclists could greatly benefit from a redesign.

Years-Long Debate on Redesign

The discussion about the redesign of Wallensteinstraße has been ongoing for over four years. Plans have been repeatedly postponed, as reported by ORF. The responsible city planning councilor Ulli Sima (SPÖ) explains that the delays are due to the necessary citizen surveys at the district level. These must first be completed and the collected results analyzed.

Construction Start Postponed to 2025, But Also Uncertain

About a year ago, residents were surveyed, but the evaluation has been significantly delayed. District Chairwoman Christine Dubravac-Widholm (SPÖ) points out that the failure of an important partner and the unexpectedly high participation in the survey contributed to the delay. The Wallensteinstraße, which runs from the Friedensbrücke to the urban development area Nordwestbahnhof, originally planned to start the first construction phase in 2024. Now, this has been postponed to 2025, with further uncertainties about the exact start.

Wallensteinstraße Also a Topic in the Vienna Election Campaign

The situation on Wallensteinstraße is also being discussed in the context of the upcoming Vienna Election. Dubravac-Widholm plans to push the project forward again after her re-election, but it remains to be seen how the pace of planning will affect the actual start of construction.

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