New bridge in Böheimkirchen: Symbol of the reconstruction after flooding!

New bridge in Böheimkirchen: Symbol of the reconstruction after flooding!

Böheimkirchen, Österreich - On May 20, 2025, the new bridge over the Michelbach in St. Pölten was ceremoniously opened. State Councilor Udo Landbauer, the mayor Franz Gugerell and the deputy road construction director Rainer Irschik were present to appreciate the new building. This bridge is not only an important transport connection, but also a symbol of reconstruction according to the devastating flood damage that the region hit in September 2024.

The old steel beam bridge, which was built in 1968, could not withstand the huge masses of water. Massive sub -flushing led in the partial fall of the old bridge, which ultimately required the blocking and demolition of the construction. The construction work for the structure of the new bridge, the costs of which amounted to around 2.4 million euros, were completed in November 2024. The market town of Böheimkirchen took part in the costs of walking and cycling.

damage caused by the flood

The flood in September 2024 left enormous economic damage in Austria. Estimates by the Supply Chain Intelligence Institute Austria (ASCII), the Institute for Economic Research (WIFO) and Complexity Science Hub (CSH) put the total damage to at least 1.3 billion euros. There is no significant part of around 700 million euros on private households, as the VVO insurance association determined.

In addition, the damage caused by production failures and damaged inventory for around 900 affected companies were estimated at an average of 600 million euros. One of the most affected segments is the agricultural sector, where the damage was estimated at around 14.7 million euros. Infrastructure damage, including damage to the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), are not included in these figures. Experts estimate that the infrastructure costs could reach around 1.8 billion euros.

prevention measures and future challenges

In recent years, considerable prevention measures have been implemented that have contributed to reducing the damage. Annual investments of around 60 million euros in flood protection testify to this commitment. These measures include the construction of protective walls and insulation, as well as the introduction of early warning systems.

A comparison with previous flood events shows that the damage in 2002 was still around 3 billion euros and in 2013 at 0.9 billion euros. Despite the precautions taken, an increase in extreme weather experiences due to climate change will be expected in the future. In order to meet these challenges, a review of the settlement and settlement structures is also required.

The need to improve insurance cover in high -risk areas is another topic that gains importance in the conversations about reconstruction and damage compensation. Currently, up to 80 percent of the damage can be covered by the disaster fund in Lower Austria. Nevertheless, an improved approach to the damage setting is considered important for those affected.

Overall, developments around the construction of the new bridge and the enormous damage caused by the flooding illustrate the persistent challenges in front of which Austria is facing.

For more information on the flood damage and the reconstruction, read the reports from OTS , The press and Kleine Zeitung .