Tunnel bore for Wiental Canal: Hietzing marks new progress

Tunnel bore for Wiental Canal: Hietzing marks new progress

The Wien Valley Canal takes an interesting turn: A new section to expand the channel has now been initiated with the tunnel tapping at the Gaudenzdorfer belt. This milestone marks a significant progress in a longer -term project that is intended to optimize wastewater disposal in Vienna.

In spring 2023, preparation for this important construction work started. Now the defining tunnel bores, the so -called tunneling work, are progressing. The tunnel, which will be more than nine kilometers long, is currently being dug in both directions - to Margareten in the east and Auhof in the west. The starting shaft, which impresses at 18 by 8 meters, is 15 meters below the surface and serves as the starting point for further work.

Details of the construction work

The Mineure dig a tunnel with a length of 15 meters to the west and astonishing 105 meters to the east. After this first tube has been completed, a tunnel boring machine about 130 meters long will be cut into pieces from 2025 and mounted in the shaft. The lengthy propulsion towards 13th and 14th district is expected to be completed in 2028 if the channel is finally put into operation.

Currently preparatory work is already being carried out on two construction sites in the 13th district. A service shaft is built at the confluence between Schönbrunner-Schlossallee and Hadikgasse, which will later serve for maintenance work on the drilling machine. The machines used there are equipped with special blades that ensure that the tunnel can be dug without major problems. "In this shaft there will later be a control of the 141 peel knives and 24 cutting rollers," says Josef Gottschall, spokesman for Vienna Channel.

The second location includes the intersection of St.-Veit-Gasse, Hietzinger Kai and Hadikgasse, where essential transportation line for drinking water is relocated. To ensure that the infrastructure does not suffer during the work, a reinforced concrete tube is pressed in an impressive length of around 70 meters under the Vienna river. The Hietzinger Kai is now passable again, while the restrictions on St. Veit-Gasse are expected to continue until May 2025.

water quality in focus

The channel extension not only affects wastewater disposal, but also on the environment in the region. District head Nikolaus Ebert (ÖVP) explains the scope of the project: "The WIETTAL-CANAL Century project is of enormous importance for Hietzing, since it relieves the sewer network for heavy rain and guarantees flood and environmental protection at the highest level." These developments are expected to lead to wastewater from Hietzing will no longer get into Vienna in the future.

Another advantage of the measure is to improve the water quality in the Vienna river, which is of great importance for those seeking relaxation and users of the Wiental cycle path. Ebert emphasizes that these projects will also increase the feeling of security for activities on the water. Local media such as meinbezirk.at regularly to keep the population up to date on the progress and challenges.

The last phases of the project are still imminent, but the response to the start of the tunnel bores and the ongoing work is consistently positive. The Wiental Canal will not only represent a future-oriented project for urban development, but will also bring sustainable progress in the field of environmental protection.