A joint venture between Austrian contractors Porr and Strabag has won a €217m contract to replace a 1.8km bridge in the Austrian Alps.
The 55-year-old Luegbrücke is part of the A13 Brenner motorway through the Tyrol.
A bridge will be built alongside the existing structure, to be completed by the end of 2027. Traffic will then be diverted to it, allowing the old bridge to be demolished.
At present, around 32,000 vehicles use the bridge a day.
To deal with logistics, the team will bring in materials across the nearby river Sill, which Strabag says will involve the construction of a 110m-long structure with pillars up to 60m high.
Karl-Heinz Strauss, Porr’s chief executive, said: “The extreme hillside location presents unparalleled logistical challenges for both the new construction and demolition, and the dimensions of the structure over the Sillschlucht gorge are also without peer in Austria.”
Klemens Haselsteiner, Strabag’s chief executive, said: “The Luegbrücke, a key part of the Brenner motorway and one of Austria’s busiest traffic routes, has reached its load limit after more than half a century.
“Our aim is to quickly build a new bridge that meets the highest safety requirements and provides a reliable connection for many decades to come, by means of careful planning and the use of cutting-edge construction methods.”
The replacement bridge is due to be in place by the end of 2030.
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