Tender open

Brenner Base Tunnel to be completed in eight years

(Bild: Christof Birbaumer/Kronenzeitung, Krone KREATIV)

If the board members have their way, it is "highly likely" that the Brenner Base Tunnel will actually be completed in 2031 as planned and go into operation in 2032. "The probability that the deadline will be met is increasing," explained CEO Martin Gradnitzer. However, the tender for the railroad technology is still an imponderable, as there is an objection here.

Risks for possible delays are included in the current construction program and project management, so that the 2031 and 2032 deadlines can be confirmed from a current perspective, Gradnitzer said in an interview with APA. In addition: "All tunnel construction lots have been awarded and are under construction. This means that there can no longer be any award risks from the construction lots." In addition, there is now also an "almost continuous exploratory tunnel", which is of eminent importance for geological exploration. "Only 1.6 kilometers are missing until the breakthrough at the border. This means that the geological risks have also been significantly reduced and the rock has largely been explored," the Austrian BBT board member explains.

Objection to the award of the planning tender
However, a "stumbling block" in terms of public procurement law has apparently emerged in the meantime. "The rail technology, which is to be installed from 2028, has not yet been put out to tender. We are in the process of awarding the planning tender and have received an objection or request for review in this regard, which is being dealt with by the administrative court in Bolzano," explained Gradnitzer. A hearing is scheduled for March 7, added fellow board member Gilberto Cardola. A decision, i.e. a first-instance ruling, is currently expected at the end of March. It is hoped that the court is aware of this "delicate matter and that the deadlines and time limits will be met." If a first-instance ruling is issued in March, a corresponding order could be placed immediately and the planning services could be initiated in April.

Brenner base tunnel: Overview of the Ahrental construction site in summer 2019

(Bild: APA/EXPA/JOHANN GRODER)

Gradnitzer admitted that it would be "difficult" to meet the 2031 and therefore also the 2032 deadlines if a first-instance ruling is not made until the fall, which is not expected. But this is not expected "at the moment". The BBT manager also emphasized: "We assume that the first-instance ruling will hold." So far, there has been a "slight delay" in the rail technology tender, but this has been taken into account and therefore has "no impact yet".

Corona crisis caused delay
The tunnel was originally scheduled to go into operation at the end of 2028, but in 2021 it was finally backdated to 2032. Cardola clearly attributed the main reason for this to the coronavirus crisis. A "global catastrophe like Covid was not foreseeable and therefore not a risk," said the Italian CEO, adding that work never had to be completely interrupted during this time, but work naturally progressed more slowly due to the health and safety requirements. The difference to the past is that the construction program now also takes into account other risks such as the award procedure, equipment and planning.