Traffic release

S7: Controversial until the final ceremony

The historic road construction project was opened in the Speltenbach underground route.

(Bild: Schulter Christian)

There was a party atmosphere on the S7 today: almost 2000 guests attended the historic opening ceremony. The two-lane expressway will connect the A2 freeway with the Hungarian M 80 in future. For the district of Jennersdorf, the road is above all an important economic factor.

The western section of the Fürstenfeld S7 expressway was opened in the presence of more than 2000 guests. The road, which cost around 900 million euros, was opened to traffic today. The "centerpiece" is the Rudersdorf tunnel. After that, it's over for now: cars and trucks will have to continue on the B65.

Eastern section to be completed in summer 2025
However, the eastern section in Burgenland should also be completed by summer 2025. More than 15,000 cars and trucks are expected to use the S7 every day.

(Bild: Honorar)

Dorner: A milestone in transport policy
Provincial Councillor Heinrich Dorner speaks of a milestone in transport policy: "The S7 will provide significant traffic relief in the municipalities and finally give citizens a better quality of life. At the same time, the business location will be upgraded."

The S7 expressway is an important lifeline for the Lafnitz Valley.

(Bild: Carina Fenz)

Great hope for new jobs 
For Styrian Governor Christopher Drexler, "the S7 is an initial spark for new business settlements and jobs in the region." According to Drexler, there is also great hope that the communities will be relieved of through traffic and that Styria will move closer together with Burgenland and Hungary, creating entirely new economic areas.

Barbecued chicken and beer included. The ceremonial opening of the S7 was like a folk festival.

(Bild: Schulter Christian)

Objections delayed the project by decades
Numerous objections to environmental impact assessments and water rights repeatedly delayed the start of construction of the project, which had been in the planning stage since the end of the last millennium, until the first work began in 2017. Environmentalists criticized the loss of green spaces and the loss of valuable habitats for animals, especially birds and bats. Asfinag countered this: "The S7 is an absolute showcase project in terms of sustainability," said ASFINAG board member Hartwig Hufnagl in response to the project opponents.

Greens minister was unable to attend
Speaking of opponents: the Greens have spoken out against the project from the very beginning. Unsurprisingly, Minister Gewessler was unable to attend the opening ceremony.

Fakten

The first tunnel in Burgenland

The Rudersdorf tunnel is something like the heart of the western section of the S 7. It was built over a length of around 1.1 kilometers using the cut-and-cover method. This means that the earth was excavated first and then the tunnel tubes were built. Around 1.9 kilometers of the tunnel were built using the traditional mining method with excavators. The excavation posed a particular challenge because this area is predominantly made up of loose rock, i.e. clay, sand and in some cases gravel.