Billion investments for Rhine-Hochwater Protection: Austria and Switzerland deal with the state contract

Billion investments for Rhine-Hochwater Protection: Austria and Switzerland deal with the state contract

Austria and Switzerland agree: large project for flood protection on the Rhein

A historical moment for flood protection on the Rhine: The Austrian parliament unanimously gave the green light for an ambitious project that is to be implemented together with Switzerland. With an investment volume of 2.1 billion euros, the border river is to be made fit for flood events that occur statistically every 300 years before its mouth to Lake Constance.

The focus is on expanding the capacities of the river and designing it in such a way that it is better prepared in extreme rains. Currently, up to 3,100 cubic meters of water can flow over the Alpine Rhine per second, which corresponds to a 100-year flood. In the long term, this capacity is to be increased to 4,300 cubic meters per second to ensure the safety of the local population.

The start of construction is planned for 2027 at the earliest, and completion will take another 20 years. The project includes a distance of 26 kilometers on which the river is preserved more space in order to be able to develop more naturally. This will not only make protective measures more effective, but also improve the environment.

With the aim of protecting around 300,000 people in the Rhine Valley from impending floods, Austria and Switzerland signed this groundbreaking agreement in May. A crucial step towards more security and sustainability on one of the most important rivers in Europe.