The contract for the main construction works of the second section of the A 26 Linz Motorway has been awarded to the consortium Swietelsky Tunnelbau GmbH and Swietelsky AG, with a contract value of around EUR 376 million.
Construction is scheduled to start in summer 2026 on the project section comprising the Freinberg Tunnel, the station interchange and the below-grade Waldeggstraße section.
“The A 26 will significantly reduce traffic in the Upper Austrian capital of Linz. This means a higher quality of life as well as shorter journeys for commuters. Our investment is also a growth-promoting stimulus for this strong and dynamic business location. We are pleased that a company headquartered in Linz was able to prevail as the successful bidder with a tender in line with our cost estimate,” emphasizes Executive Board member Hartwig Hufnagl on behalf of the client, ASFINAG.
“Two lots of the A 26 project in Linz have been awarded to SWIETELSKY: the fact that we are allowed to deliver both the tunnel project and the civil engineering structures makes me personally very proud. It is a strong sign of trust in our expertise in tunnelling, but above all in our civil engineering capabilities. Especially in our home city of Linz, it is something special for us to convince with know-how, experience and reliability. This project demonstrates what SWIETELSKY stands for: technically demanding infrastructure from a single source, delivered by strong teams with the highest standards of quality and safety,” says Peter Krammer, CEO of Swietelsky AG.
Günter Steinkellner, Provincial Councillor for Infrastructure in Upper Austria: “The A 26 is a key project for providing substantial relief to Linz traffic. By shifting traffic underground, we create greater safety and a noticeable improvement for everyone who is on the move every day. At the same time, we strengthen the performance of the entire transport network and sustainably enhance the attractiveness of the Linz location.”
A 26 Linz Motorway, Stage 2
The “heart” of the A 26 is the Freinberg Tunnel. It is more than three kilometres long and runs beneath Freinberg as well as Ziegelei- and Waldeggstraße. In the future, heavy traffic on Waldeggstraße will disappear underground. During construction of the below-grade section, two lanes per direction will remain available. This tunnel will significantly calm traffic in the district. For optimal connections at the future station junction, three tunnel tubes and four road levels will be arranged one above the other. The route therefore runs largely in tunnel, minimizing noise and environmental impacts.
Waldeggstraße and its connections will remain in place, but will be extensively redesigned. This includes wider sidewalks, bus lanes and an improved cycle path for greater safety and comfort. In addition, the area will be newly landscaped and greened. The road is scheduled to open to traffic in 2032.
Total investment in the A 26 amounts to EUR 1.2 billion, with the Province of Upper Austria covering ten percent and the City of Linz five percent of the costs.