Wels: Noise protection expansion starts in Wimpassing

2023-12-05 04:06:00

For the first time yesterday, Mayor Andreas Rabl (FP) and Mobility City Councilor Stefan Ganzert (SP) presented a concrete schedule for the expansion of noise protection on the Wels motorways: Asfinag will start with Wimpassing from 2026. In the following eight to ten years, the sections in Wels -Follow north.

The city will contribute a total of 7.5 million euros in the coming years. At the next meeting at the beginning of December, the local council is expected to decide on the financing for the first part of around 710,000 euros. The total costs for the first section amount to 6.1 million euros.

Noise barriers and whisper asphalt

Asfinag is building the noise barriers in Wimpassing as part of the renovation of the Noitzmühle and Steinhaus tunnels up to the Voralpenkreuz on the A8 and A1. “Whispering asphalt” will also be applied in sections to further reduce noise.

The project meets long-standing demands from several citizens’ initiatives. “Citizens have a time horizon; after completion, the quality of life should be significantly improved,” says Mayor Andreas Rabl.

The trigger for the noise protection offensive is a report by Asfinag from the previous year, according to which, in addition to Wimpassing, several buildings in Puchberg, Niederthan, Oberthan and Höllwiesen are “worthy of protection” due to noise pollution. “From 2026 onwards, we will carry out further projects every year,” says Mobility City Councilor Stefan Ganzert (SP). Where there are currently no noise barriers, for example in Puchberg, the new systems could reduce pollution by up to ten decibels, according to Ganzert.