Which infrastructure projects have priority for Austria in 2010?
In the railway sector, the expansion of the western railway line is continuing at full speed. This includes the new construction of the Vienna-St. Pölten section, the renovation of the St. Pölten railway station and the four-track gap closure on the western railway line between Ybbs and Amstetten. This is a key part of upgrading the western railway line between Vienna and Linz and the European railway corridor TEN-17 from Paris to Bratislava to four tracks. On the southern railway line, the construction of the Koralm railway line is moving along swiftly; in fall of 2010, work on the core part of the Koralm Tunnel will commence with a 20 kilometre long tunnel section. As part of the economic stimulus packages, measures that are part of the railway station offensive were implemented: Railway stations are being renovated and made more customer-friendly, including track restoration, removal or securing of railway crossings and thermal upgrades to ÖBB high-rise buildings.
An important road project, which is scheduled to be opened to traffic in 2010, is the full expansion of the S 33 expressway (Kremser Schnellstraße). With the new Danube Bridge as its core piece, it will close the connection to the S 5 expressway (Stockerauer Schnellstraße) and the A1 motorway (Westautobahn), creating a regional ring in the west. On the Tauern motorway, the bottom section of the Tauern Tunnel is planned to be opened to traffic in 2010, and so is the northern section of the S 35 expressway (Brucker Schnellstraße).
How high are the investments from public authorities in the expansion of the road and railway network?
With the ÖBB master plan and the Asfinag construction programme, there are more investments now than ever before in the Second Republic. In the years between 2009 and 2014, they will add up to 22.5 billion EUR. 13.9 billion will be invested in railway projects, and 8.6 billion in roads; that means more than 60 percent will be invested in the railway network and just under 40 percent in the road network. Up until 2014, we will on average invest 2.3 billion EUR annually into the railway network, and 1.4 billion EUR in motorways and expressways. These record investments will secure over 50,000 jobs every year on a long-term basis. With these record sums, we are financing investments in the future – values for generations. We are closing the gaps in the Austrian road network and are bringing Austria’s railway network, of which over 70 percent still dates back to the monarchy, up to the standards of the 21st century.
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