Praise tunnel debate: Political accusations and environmental concerns explode!

Praise tunnel debate: Political accusations and environmental concerns explode!

Wien, Österreich - The debate about the Lobautunnel has increased in intensity in recent days. A new report worth 460,000 euros, which is known as the "luxury report", and internal documents raise questions about the technical independence of the reports. These developments have triggered violent political reactions, especially from the conservative and right warehouse. The financial spokesman for the ÖVP, Andreas Ottenschläger, made a parliamentary request to the SPÖ transport minister Peter Hanke and expressed his "strange" about possible political influence during the term of office by Minister of Climate Leonore Gewessler.

The criticism of the project comes in particular from the FPÖ, whose state vice Udo Landbauer speaks of "conscious sabotage" and a "low arbitrariness". FPÖ general secretary Christian Hafenecker called for a ministerial order, but requires the support of the ÖVP in the committees. Time is urgent, because six months after Gewessler's departure from the office, the possibility of parliamentary control expires. A hearing on the constitutional committee, in which Guessler and Fach experts have to comment, is already expected.

Gewessler's position on the Lobaut tunnel

Leonore Gewessler describes the Lobautunnel as a "nature destruction project" and refers to the results of a strategic examination that the Ministry of Transport commissioned two years ago. These first results have recently been available and support their arguments against the road construction project, which was put on hold due to climate protection reasons. Guessers criticized the high ground consumption of the tunnel, which would lead through a nature reserve. Despite the criticism of environmental protection organizations and the Greens, there is a political majority (SPÖ, ÖVP, FPÖ) that supports the project.

On February 1, 2022, activists protested against the Lobautunnel as part of the evacuation of a protest camp. These protests underline the continued resistance to the infrastructure project. However, the S1 Northeastern bypass project remains in the Federal Roads Act and continues to enjoy support from many political decision-makers.

economic importance of the project

The lobaut tunnel not only has environmentally political, but also significant economic effects. According to the Wirtschaftsbund Vienna , the tunnel is important for the connection to central economic and traffic junction. Walter Ruck, President of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce, emphasizes the need to promote important infrastructure projects such as the Lobaut tunnel to secure Vienna's economic growth.

With construction costs of 1.5 billion euros, the lobaut tunnel would make a contribution of 1.95 billion euros to the gross national product (GDP) and create 17,600 jobs, of which 967 million euros and 9,200 jobs are omitted directly to Vienna. Without the praise tunnel, company settlements in the affected areas that rely on the S1 are difficult or impossible, which could significantly impair the economic development of Vienna.

The intensity of the exams and the associated political tensions show how controversial the topic of praise tunnel remains and how strongly the social interests have to be weighed against each other.