A tunnel for more quality of life: Leopoldschlager citizens defend themselves

A tunnel for more quality of life: Leopoldschlager citizens defend themselves

Leopoldschlag. The residents of the towns of Hiltschen and Leitmannsdorf are concerned. The planned route of the Mühlviertel expressway S10, which is supposed to extend close to the residential areas, causes great excitement in the community. The residents breathe their displeasure because they expect an increase in noise, exhaust gases and dirt. Wolfgang Keferböck, a resident of Leitmannsdorf, emphasizes: "The open route with only 80 to 100 meters from our houses endangers our quality of life."

In order to draw attention to their situation, the residents have initiated a resolution of the local council, which was unanimously adopted on September 12, 2024. In it, an installation of the S10 in the affected towns is required.

cancellation of Asfinag

But the reaction of ASFINAG, which is responsible for planning, was sobering. Project manager Leopold Lechner explained that the technical conditions make it impossible. "There are criteria for environmental compatibility that we comply with, but in our view, a housing is not necessary," says Lechner. The entire route is planned in an environmentally friendly manner, which is why tunnel or underground lanes are not intended.

Such an answer leaves the residents cold. They express further concerns and are now striving to bring in a tunnel as an alternative. Keferböck explains: "The environmental impact assessment (RRP) offers us the opportunity to bring another solution into the process. We suggest a tunnel west of the B310."

signature campaign for more support

In order to increase the chances of a positive response from the local council, the residents have started a signature campaign. Your goal is to collect sufficient votes until the next municipal council meeting on December 12th. "We knock from door to door and hope to get at least 250 signatures together," reports Keferböck. Although they later appear with their demands than desired, they are determined to try everything.

Mayor Anita Gstöttenmayr is in solidarity and conveys between the residents and ASFINAG. It has already been achieved to achieve some improvements, for example the increase in the planned noise barrier to four meters instead of 2.5 meters. "However, the opportunities for influence of the community are limited and the route will probably remain," mentioned Gstöttenmayr.

outlook on the RRP procedure

Lechner reports that the Federal Ministry of Climate Protection already approved the preliminary project in April 2024 and that the RRP procedure will be initiated by June 2025. Another information event on the S10 at the municipal office was planned in February 2025. If the municipal council voted for a tunnel on December 12, Lechner assures that ASFINAG will take note of this. Nevertheless, he warns of exaggerated expectations because the implementation of a tunnel or a housing is associated with high financial and environmental requirements. "Every cubic meter of concrete has consequences for the environment and requires considerable costs that are not portable for us," he explains.

The residents of Hiltschen and Leitmannsdorf are therefore further facing challenges. The discussion about the S10 route and the feared negative impact on their quality of life remains exciting. The residents continue to do everything they can to raise their voice and find solutions that are acceptable for everyone involved. Further information can be found on www.tips.at .