Warning green: S 18 building despite resistance and 2 billion costs!

Warning green: S 18 building despite resistance and 2 billion costs!

On April 28, 2025, Lukas Hammer, the traffic spokesman for the Greens, expressed sharp criticism of Transport Minister Peter Hanke and the planned Bodensee-Schnellstraße S 18 in Vorarlberg. Hammer described the efforts to build this project as a "concrete policy from the last millennium" and found that it was carried out against the will of the population. The estimated costs for the S 18 amount to around two billion euros, which Hammer described as a "wrong way" in view of the current budgetary challenges. According to Hammer, the project also threatens to endanger a nature reserve and destroy valuable agricultural areas.

The rejection of the project by the public is considerable. A referendum in 2023 showed that more than 77 percent of the population were against the construction of the S 18. Hammer pointed out that the high costs of the equivalent of around 235,000 euros per running meter are not justified. He referred to an alternative connection across the Swiss border, which would be feasible compared to the S 18 with almost 90 percent less loss of agricultural areas and without nature conservation conflicts. This alternative solution was supported by a broad parliamentary majority in 2021, including the ÖVP, SPÖ, Neos and Greens.

Hanke and the high -ranking road projects

Transport Minister Hanke had previously announced that it would subject high -ranking road projects to an effect on their effectiveness. However, this announcement is considered an empty promise by Hammer. The pressure caused by the current environmental and climate protection requirements come to the fore the question of the overall economic advantage of such projects. The current Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan (BVWP) 2030, which was adopted in 2016, has been under sharp observation, especially since essential framework conditions have changed since then. This includes the Federal Climate Protection Act and the high run of electrical vehicles.

The criticism of the BVWP 2030 not only includes questions about the advantage of the projects, but also possible impairments for the environment and nature. Such an analysis, commissioned by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Security and Consumer Protection (BMUV), addresses the need for contemporary and environmentally friendly transport infrastructure planning. An updated consideration of the benefits of the road projects shows that many of the planned measures no longer appear justified under the changed framework conditions. In addition, the study presents recommendations for action for a transition to an integrated federal traffic and mobility planning.