An Engelberg tunnel 81: Start of the second possible construction phase in April 2021 / Planned construction costs will not increase

From the second construction phase, ongoing traffic on the A 81 motorway must be interrupted. However, individual lanes are only closed from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. This means that all six existing lanes are available during the day. Only the lane widths and the associated speed are limited. No diversions for the downstream road network are required.

In order to keep the impairments for road users as short and low as possible, this traffic distribution - and thus the beginning of the second construction phase - takes place only when all prerequisites for the continuous construction process of the second construction phase are met. An important prerequisite for this are the prefabricated steel components that are required to strengthen the inner shell of the tunnel. These approximately 700 steel components have to meet high quality standards, which arise primarily from the installation in the traffic sector and the special requirements of the Engelberg tunnel. The first 70 steel components arrived at the construction site this summer. However, the detailed testing of these steel components on the construction site showed that the quality was insufficient. The weld seams in sections of the five -meter -long steel components did not correspond to the required quality standards. The robustness of the construction could possibly be affected. 70 new steel components have arrived on the construction site from another work commissioned by the consortium. These are of good quality.

Since traffic safety has top priority for the country, the Stuttgart regional council and the commissioned working group have found a solution together with various steel construction specialists. In the meantime, the state was able to achieve a result to continue the main construction project Engelberg Tunnel. Around 200 of the steel components already produced are comprehensively revised to meet the high quality standards. The commissioned construction company will ensure that the 430 steel components still to be produced also meet the necessary quality standards. For this purpose, the production in two works by the construction company with additional quality assurance measures is monitored even more precisely.

The costs for the main construction project of around 130 million euros will not increase. For the federal government as a building contractor, the quality problems do not cause any additional costs. Due to the late start of the second construction phase, which was originally planned for this spring, the construction work is extended by about a year. This cannot be avoided because the corresponding quality of the steel components must be guaranteed. In addition, due to the weather, it is difficult in the winter months to determine traffic safety for the distribution of traffic in the second construction phase.

Current information on road construction sites in the state can be found on the website of the Baden-Württemberg road traffic center at www.verkehrinfo-bw.de . Verkehrsinfo BW is also available as an app (free and without advertising)-Information at: www.verkehrinfo-bw.de/verkehrsinfo_app .
under www.svz-bw.de At important traffic points on motorways and federal roads installed webcams give an impression of the current traffic situation.

background information:
With the main construction project, a comprehensive structural and operational modernization of the Engelberg tunnel will take place. In the course of the construction work, the inner shell of the tunnel is reinforced over a length of around 175 meters. As a result of the operating work, the entire security and operating technology is renewed over the entire length of both tunnel pipes at 2,520 meters. In addition, age -related damage in the tunnel is eliminated. Construction costs amount to around 130 million euros and are borne by the federal government as a building contractor. The planned end of the construction work is now May 2025.

The Stuttgart Regional Council has commissioned a working group consisting of two companies from Baden-Württemberg and a company from Austria to carry out the main construction work on the Engelberg tunnel. On behalf of the consortium, the steel components are produced by two certified works in Ukraine according to European standards. The quality must be checked on site during production by the certified work and on the construction site by the commissioned construction company. In addition, there was a test institute commissioned by the Stuttgart regional council in the work for inspection before production to ensure quality and get an idea on site.

From January 1, 2021, Autobahn GmbH takes over all tasks related to motorways in Germany - i.e. planning, construction, operation, maintenance, financing and asset management. From then on, the responsible employees of the Stuttgart district administrator will continue to monitor the main construction work on the Engelberg tunnel as an employee of Autobahn GmbH Südwest