📋 Tender Overview
The state of Vorarlbergs building construction and road construction programs will account for more than 190 million euros in the 2025 budget, which is around 20 million euros more than last year. With this increase, the state government is underlining its determination to counter the ongoing recession with strong investments in important infrastructure projects, emphasized Governor Markus Wallner in the press foyer together with the government members responsible for the departments, State Governor Christof Bitschi and State Councilor Daniel Allgauer.
Extensive construction phases will be implemented this year for the states largest construction projects - the Feldkirch city tunnel, the extension of the university of applied sciences and the conversion and expansion of the Rankweil and Feldkirch state hospitals. A sustainable infrastructure to relieve traffic congestion and in the areas of health and education is the foundation for a strong Vorarlberg location. At the same time, our investments are helping to stimulate the economy and create and maintain jobs, said Wallner.
In economically difficult times it is important, on the one hand, to use the countrys resources very responsibly, but on the other hand to send clear signals to the economy. We need to make operational savings, but we must also preserve the necessary financial leeway for strategically important projects, Wallner explains. Road construction Well-developed and safe road connections are necessary to ensure that residential and commercial areas can be reached and people can be mobile. The creation and maintenance of a high-quality road infrastructure is explicitly laid down in the Vorarlberg state governments work program, emphasises State Governor Bitschi: This is part of an integral transport policy that relies on modern, efficient and networked mobility and logistics as a key factor for the success of our state. A total of 111 million euros has been budgeted for material expenses excluding personnel for state road construction this year. Of this, 72.6 million euros will go into the actual construction program along the 800-kilometer-long state road network, including associated structures 614 bridges, 37 tunnels, 47 galleries, 25 underpasses, walls. Feldkirch city tunnel After completion of the preparatory measures, which included two exploration tunnels and the conversion of the L190 in Felsenau with a new cycle path underpass, the tendering process for the tunnel construction work for the main construction section was successfully completed at the end of 2024. The contract worth 213.8 million euros goes to a consortium consisting of the companies JagerBau/Bludenz, Strabag/Carinthia and Hilti+Jehle/Feldkirch.
This ensures that a large part of the investment benefits the domestic construction industry and its suppliers, thereby providing a strong boost for Vorarlberg as a business location, emphasizes State Governor Bitschi. The state government has not only decided to award the construction contracts, but also construction phase 2 of the city tunnel, including the Tosters tunnel branch. The aim is to complete this generational project by 2030 in accordance with the time limit in the EIA decision. Budget funds of 29 million euros have been earmarked for 2025. The construction of logistics and construction site facilities in the area of the future Felsenau portal will begin in February. Tunnel excavation is scheduled to start in autumn. The first construction work in the area of the future Altstadt tunnel portal behind the Schillerstrasse school center is also scheduled to begin in autumn.
In summer 2025, project partner VEN Vorarlberger Energienetze AG will begin work on the underground laying of two 110 kV lines in the Kapfweg area. After the city tunnel is completed, the current overhead lines in the Fellengatter area will be dismantled and new, high-performance lines will run under the tunnel roadway. Other projects, repairs to structures L 26, Egg: start of repair of Fluhbrucke L 44, Lustenau-Widnau: removal of road surface L 51, Zwischenwasser: replacement construction of Histelerbrucke as part of expansion part 2, new start L 59, Koblach Montlingen: start of repair of Rhine bridge L 90, Sonntag: start of repair of the Schwarze Dohle gallery L 95, Schruns: support rib and retaining wall L190, Lochau-Horbranz: continuation of replacement construction of Ruggbachbrucke L 191, Feldkirch: start of replacement construction of Montfortbrucke L 193, Blons: start of repair of slope bridge L 200, Schrocken: expansion and retaining walls, new start In addition, there are considerable funds for ongoing maintenance operations, for measures to increase traffic safety and as contributions to projects of the torrent and avalanche control and ASFINAG total almost 22 million euros. A further nine million euros will be used to fund municipal measures to promoteCycling is supported, of which EUR2.3 million will go towards expanding the Vorderland fast cycle route.
Building construction The focus of the state building construction program is on the functionality and quality of the buildings as well as ecological objectives, explains State Councilor Allgauer: We need modern, well-equipped schools and hospitals, because the education and health systems are essential building blocks for the high quality of life in Vorarlberg. The state buildings are also being brought up to date in order to offer modern workplaces for an efficient and citizen-friendly state administration. High standards are set for construction and energy technology in all projects. The aim is always to use as little energy as possible, and to cover this wherever possible from regionally available renewable energy sources, says Allgauer. A total of EUR81.5 million will be available for building construction in 2025.
