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Total closures of Deutsche Bahn, construction sites on Brenner, Tauern, A8 Munich-Salzburg
The domestic logistics industry solves highly complex challenges every day to ensure the supply of Austria’s population and economy. We have proven that we can do this during the Covid pandemic, as everyone remembers. However, completely uncoordinated, simultaneous major construction sites on roads and rails confront even the best systems with insurmountable barriers and threaten to result in a supply collapse.
Alexander Friesz, President of the Central Association of Freight Forwarders & Logistics
Vienna (OTS) – The restructuring program launched by Deutsche Bahn recently with a planned total closure – including on the route via the Deutsches Eck – and the associated public criticism from the business community are the first signs of construction site chaos that is endangering Austria’s security of supply. The lack of coordination of road and rail renovations without suitable alternative routes is putting security of supply at unnecessary and massive risk. The upcoming general renovation of the Brenner motorway and the planned overlapping renovations and closures along the A8 Munich-Salzburg and the Tauern motorway threaten to lead to enormous traffic and supply problems. The most important traffic and trade routes will therefore be massively affected. Rail freight transport, which has already lost capacity in recent years, will not offer an alternative to road due to the planned total closure by Deutsche Bahn, but also due to many new construction sites in Austria. The Central Association of Freight Forwarders and Logistics generally understands the need for renovation work, but strongly criticises the lack of coordination and calls on the Ministry of Transport to fulfil its coordination function and to coordinate with the relevant states and the motorway and rail operators responsible there in order to avoid chaotic conditions.
Alexander Friesz, President of the Central Association of Freight Forwarders and Logistics, warns of unnecessary damage caused by a lack of coordination: “The domestic logistics industry solves highly complex challenges every day to ensure the supply of Austria’s population and economy. We have proven that we can do this during the Covid pandemic, as everyone remembers. However, completely uncoordinated, simultaneous major construction sites on roads and rails confront even the best systems with insurmountable barriers and threaten to result in a supply collapse. We therefore appeal once again to all those responsible in the Ministry of Transport as well as the road and rail operators to coordinate within Austria as well as with Germany and Italy.”
In addition to professional coordination of the construction sites and the provision of alternative routes, the night-time driving ban for trucks will also be lifted for the duration of the construction work in order to minimize congestion and traffic chaos.
As one of the most heavily used Alpine routes for road freight transport, the Brenner Corridor is of crucial importance for the supply of goods to many European regions. There is now a threat of simultaneous or overlapping closures and restrictions on traffic:
* From 2025, the urgent renovation or complete reconstruction of the Lueg Bridge near Gries am Brenner will cause massive traffic disruptions of up to 3 years.
* From 2027, renovation work on the Tauern Tunnel will severely impact the second main axis in a north-south direction.
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* During the same period, 23 bridge renovations along the A8 Munich-Salzburg and the expansion from 6 to 8 lanes (including hard shoulders) between Rosenheim and the state border will lead to further burdens.
No road, no rail
Shifting freight transport to rail is not an alternative due to a lack of capacity, as well as the construction work planned and already underway in many cases, the total closure of Deutsche Bahn and the Brenner Tunnel, which is still under construction. The Central Association has already pointed out several times, supported by studies, the lack of potential in the current and future modal split and the increasing volume of goods in road freight transport.
Comprehensive measures required
In order to minimize the negative impact of the renovation work, the federal government, federal states, neighboring countries such as Germany and Italy, road maintenance companies and rail operators must act in a timely and coordinated manner. The temporary lifting of the night-time driving ban for trucks during the construction and renovation phases would help reduce traffic jams and stabilize traffic flow by better distributing freight traffic.
Friesz: “We are calling for coordinated and fact-based action here – in the interests of security of supply. Potential analyses and simulations that ensure the correct staggering of projects and the provision of alternative routes should also be taken into account as a basis for decisions. And this should also include the lifting of the night-time driving ban on trucks and the suspension of the current dosing measures, which will lead to even more traffic jams without alternatives and alternative routes.
Inquiries & Contact:
Central Association of Freight Forwarding & Logistics
+43 (0)1 512 35 38
[email protected]
www.spediteure-logistik.at
#Construction #site #chaos #endangers #Austrias #security #supply #Central #Association #Freight #Forwarders #Logistics #18.07.2024
#Construction #site #chaos #endangers #Austrias #security #supply #Central #Association #Freight #Forwarders #Logistics #18.07.2024
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#Construction #site #chaos #endangers #Austrias #security #supply #Central #Association #Freight #Forwarders #Logistics #18.07.2024
2024-07-19 11:55:19