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Rotenturmstrasse project, cable and gas pipe laying

Facts and Figures
Company Wiener Betriebs- und Baugesellschaft mbH.
Principal Wiener Netze GmbH
Location Vienna - Austria
Type Pipeline construction
Runtime 04.2019 - 07.2020

New utility lines for Vienna’s city centre.

In recent years, political discussion has surrounded the construction works on Rotenturmstrasse in the heart of Vienna. The project involved remodelling the space between Stephansplatz and Schwedenplatz into a shared-use zone.

To ensure the security of the energy supply for decades to come, Vienna’s Municipal Department 28 – Road Management and Construction contracted Wiener Netze GmbH to renovate the existing power and gas lines in this area. WIBEBA was able to secure the contract to lay the utility lines after a call for tenders in February 2019. Construction began shortly afterward, in April 2019. The team under project manager Philipp Simon constructed a 3,143m-long trench, including around 300m of crossings, and laid approx. 24,700m of cabling and 3,380m of cable conduit in various dimensions. A total of 1,984m3 was excavated, representing about 3,000t of earth or 300 lorry-loads.

The electricity department of Wiener Netze GmbH took the opportunity offered by this project to conduct additional construction works to reinforce the network in adjacent city quarters. The team worked on a stretch covering a total length of more than 3,000m across the centre of Vienna: across Rudolfsplatz, Morzinplatz and Schwedenplatz to Fleischmarkt, and extending into Postgasse and Wollzeile.

Although under extreme time pressure, our staff successfully managed to coordinate the Road Construction department, Municipal Department 31 – Vienna Water, suppliers, waste transport and material storage for the project. Throughout the works, close coordination was required with site neighbours and local shops, in addition to the companies at work on the various lots. Additional challenges included average foot traffic of over 38,000 pedestrian per day and the site’s close proximity to significant landmarks and the most popular party quarter in the city, the Bermuda Triangle. Measures were required to ensure safe and uninterrupted pedestrian traffic across the construction site and access to all shops.

Despite the far from easy conditions, the construction scheme was successfully completed in July 2020. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the project participants for their flawless cooperation.