Signs for the Construction of the Lobau Tunnel Look Good
The completion of the S1 is "without alternative," emphasized the Transport Minister, and necessary "to secure the economic location of the entire eastern region and to improve the quality of life for the people." He expects a relief of the "massively congested" Vienna Southeast Tangent (A23), on which an average of 200,000 vehicles travel daily.
They have been intensively dealing with all facets of the project for months, reviewing legal opinions and ongoing procedures, said Hanke. He criticized the environmental report of the previous government in various places. Hanke said he takes "the concerns about the environment seriously" and the climate goal of 2040 must be achieved. "The Lobau remains untouched," emphasized the Transport Minister, no excavator will drive through the Lobau and no tree will be felled.
Order to Asfinag
Asfinag was commissioned with the construction of the first of two sections. "All approvals are legally secure and unchallengeable," said Asfinag Managing Director Hartwig Hufnagl. The investment costs for the nearly 10.8-kilometer-long first section between Groß-Enzersdorf and Süßenbrunn amount to 500 million euros and will be borne by Asfinag.
For the second section, which includes the 3.8-kilometer-long tunnel under the Lobau nature reserve, several procedures are still pending, said Hufnagl. A final decision is not expected before 2030, but they are confident that the section will be approved. Even with the first section, which is to be completed by 2032, Hufnagl expects significant relief for road users and an economic benefit.
For the entire S1 completion, including the planned Lobau Tunnel, investment costs of 2.7 billion euros are expected, which will be borne by Asfinag. The Transport Minister expects an economic benefit of four billion euros.
Lobau Tunnel Removed from Construction Program
Hanke thus revised the decision of his predecessor Leonore Gewessler, now head of the Greens, who had the Lobau Tunnel removed from Asfinag's construction program. That the Transport Minister wants to build the Lobau Tunnel is not surprising. He had already described it in February to the Krone as "very important for the federal capital and for the eastern region" and announced the "necessary implementation" from his point of view.
The completion of the S1 is probably one of the most controversial construction projects in Austria. It is expected that the fierce protests from environmentalists - after all, the route runs through and under the Donauauen National Park - will be prolonged.
(APA/Red)
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